Stop issuing coal mining licences in Nagaland, said MLA Achumbemo Kikon

KOHIMA — NPF MLA Achumbemo Kikon on Friday suggested that the state government should stop issuing coal mining licences in the absence of proper scientific methods in the state.

‘Unless a proper scientific way is in place, the licence should be stopped and proper streamlining should be made,’ Kikon said while pointing out the ill-effects of coal mines on human health and environment.

There is a lot of random coal mining going on, and the government-mandated filling of mine holes by contractors and landowners is not being followed. There is no back filling, and the holes are left open, spoiling the entire area, Kikon said while maintaining that it should be properly looked into.

The counter consequences are affecting human health, destroying flora and fauna, and contributing the most to gas emissions, he said, supplementing a question he raised about coal mining in Nagaland.

Kikon had also sought answers in terms of references for issuing coal mining licences in the state.

Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who is also the minister in charge of Geology and Mining, responded to Kikon’s queries, listing out the documents required for obtaining a coal mining licence.

These include Coal Prospecting Report (CPL), mining plan, progressive mine closure plan, land ownership/land possession certificate certified by the village council, NOC and recommendation from the  village council, integrity certificate/clearance certificate from the local administration as per village council recommendation /NOC, forest clearance certificate in case of govt. reserve forest/certification of non government forest area to be obtained from EF&CC, consent from the Nagaland Pollution Control Board. In case of pvt. company/partnership, etc., deed of lease agreement between the parties and duly registered and all statutory fees through Treasury challan only.

On fulfilling these criteria laid in rule -6 of the Nagaland Coal Mining Rules (First Amendment) 2014, the government shall grant approval for issuing coal mining licence, Rio said.

The minister in-charge also said that the department generated revue of INR 9,91,82,730 in 2022-23 and INR 3,41,42,645 in 2023-24.

Meanwhile, Kikon questioned the revenue gap between the two fiscal years, to which deputy CM TR Zeliang responded that the demand for coal went down in 2023-24. He added that revenue collection for FY24 is still running and is yet to be closed. The exact amount will be known by the end of March, Zeliang said.