Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced on Thursday that the state has made significant strides in scientific mining, with four individuals granted licenses and investments made in equipment and infrastructure. Speaking to reporters, Sangma said, “Four individuals have been given licenses and different investments have been made at different levels and equipment have been placed in those and at a certain level, scientific mining has started.” Highlighting the progress made, Sangma mentioned that scientifically mined coal has already been flagged off twice.
“In fact, there was one instance where we had sent and flagged off the scientifically mined coal in a certain batch – twice it has happened in fact,” he said. The Chief Minister expressed optimism that the process of granting licenses would gain momentum, with around 17-20 more applications pending with the central government. “Approximately, I don’t remember the exact number but about 17-20 more applications for license are lying with the central government. I expect those procedures, now that the SOPs are clear and the first four were cleared which were the most difficult part, I expect that the other 17 or 20 odd applications and many more now coming in should be getting the licenses also very soon.”
Sangma acknowledged that the new system, technology, and procedures had taken time to implement, but expressed confidence that the most challenging part was over. “It is a process. As I said it is a new system, new technology and new procedures – therefore, it took sometime for us to get into place but I would be not wrong that the more difficult part is over for us and now it is just a question of expanding it and involving as many more miners as possible,” he said.