Nagaland government has suspended issuance of new Coal Prospecting License (CPL) in virgin area till further orders. State chief secretary Lalthara in a notification informed CPL holders to obtain Coal Mining Lease (CML) against their CPL before the start of the next mining season. The notification also informed that hereafter, extraction of coal would not be allowed to any coal operators not possessing valid CML or Short Term Mining License (STML).
In this regard, the government has authorized flying squad team and the district officers, in coordination with local administration and police, to issue mine closure notice to all illegal coal operators/CPL holders not to extract coal without possessing valid CML or STML, but close their mines till they obtain CML. The notification also informed that no CPL holders would be allowed to use heavy mining machinery in their prospecting areas except drilling machine, compressor and its accessories. However, with regard to construction of approach road to the prospecting area/mining lease area, the government has allowed use of one bulldozer and one excavator under strict supervision of responsible district officer. It cautioned that the designated officer would be held responsible, if any such activity prevailed under the officer’s jurisdiction without officially informing the authority.
The government said Coal Challan (CC) would be issued to check gates only against those coal carrying trucks belonging to CML holders while coal carrying trucks not possessing CML would be seized and imposed with penalty of ten times the rate of normal royalty.
Environmental guidelines: Government has also directed CML or STML holders to strictly implement the provisions of the Mining Plan (MP), Environmental Management Plan (EMP), Progressive Mine Closure Plan (PMCP) and Final Mine Closure Plan (FMCP).
It also directed forest department/Nagaland State Pollution Control Board to inspect proposed mining areas and work out the anticipated quantum of environmental/forestry likely to be damaged due to mining activity and accordingly determine the value thereof and obtain surety or realize certain amount from CML holder in the form of compensatory tax. It said percentage of compensatory tax from the rate of royalty, may not exceed 10% of the rate of royalty prescribed by it.
The government also informed that periodical joint inspection/checking by representatives comprising of authorized officers of the Directorate of Geology and Mining, NSPCB and Forest & Environment departments would be conducted to check whether CML holders were strictly implementing the MP, EMP, PMC & MCP etc. and necessary penalty would be imposed and legal action taken against defaulters.
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