In pursuance of the government order, the directorate of geology and mining has informed all coal prospecting licence (CPL) holders to obtain coal mining lease (CML) against their CPL before the start of the next mining season.
An official notice issued by geology and mining director H.K.Chishi stated that hereafter coal extraction and transportation would not be allowed on the strength of CPL but the mines of those CPL holders and illegal mines would be closed till such time they obtained CML or short term mining lease (STML). All the CLP holders have also been directed to immediately contact the officer in charge, coal cell of the department of geology and mining, Dimapur for obtaining necessary technical guidance and CML/STML application forms.
In lieu of coal prospecting licence, the director said STML would be issued to those applicants willing to do mining in virgin hilly terrain areas, which falls under following conditions where – the propose area is hilly and less than 200mx200m; the place is not accessible with heavy machinery; prospecting by drilling is not possible; the deposit can not be mined by opencast mining and the possible reverse is less than 10,000 metric tone. The department said district in charges has been empowered to close all illegal mines by serving mine closure notices. It further stated that any person(s) undertaking illegal coal mining activities was punishable under the mining laws.
RELATED POSTS
View all
