Guwahati: The Meghalaya government has taken a significant step towards scientific coal mining, forwarding 27 applications to the Ministry of Coal.
Out of these, 17 applicants have obtained a Prospecting License (PL), while eight applications have received geological report approval.
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Four applicants have been granted mining lease approval, subject to vetting and approval of their mining plans.
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According to the 24th interim report of Justice (Retd) B P Katakey, the state’s coal inventory stands at 483,825.57 tons, distributed across four districts.
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To ensure transparency and prevent illegal mining, the committee stated it has recommended aerial surveys and satellite imaging through the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC).
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Additionally, the state government has been advised to “implement a coloured sticker system” for trucks carrying auctioned seized coal, CIL auctioned coal, and coal brought from outside the state.
There are also initiatives to update the SOP to prevent illegal coal transportation and export to Bangladesh.