States » EastPosted at: Oct 14 2026 10:35PM


Meghalaya pushes Centre to lower minimum coal mining lease size to 5–10 hectares

Shillong, Oct 14 (UNI) Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said that the state government is seeking a major reduction in the minimum mine lease size from 100 hectares down to 5–10 hectares in order to bring small-scale coal miners into the legal fold.
A technical team constituted by the union Coal Ministry had recently visited and inspected coal-bearing areas in the East Jaintia Hills and Khasi Hills districts to assess the feasibility of scientific mining on such a small area.
The team included officials from the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL), the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), and the Meghalaya Directorate of Mineral Resources.
Sangma said that the proposal aims to make legal mining accessible to smaller operators while ensuring the safety of workers and protecting the environment.
The Chief Minister said the technical team, headed by an Additional Secretary in the union Ministry of Coal, met with the state government multiple times before conducting field visits and interacting with local miners to evaluate the proposed methods.
Sangma, who also holds the Mining and Geology portfolio, said that the government has submitted detailed proposals on viable mining techniques, such as the board-and-pillar method, which leaves pillars intact to support the roof and prevent collapses.
“Our concern mainly is the safety of the miners and the safety of the environment. And hence the scientific process is what they would like to see,” the Chief Minister emphasised.
The proposed approach would allow tunnels to be created in smaller mining areas, with suitable support structures to improve stability.
Sangma said similar technologies were being used in different parts of the world.
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