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…