| ID | 135432 |
| Title Proper | NGT ban and Meghalaya’s mining scenario |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Mukhim, Patricia |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Meghalaya has been known for its coal and limestone mines right from the time of the British rule. Since coal in Meghalaya occurs in shallow seams, the British found it convenient to allow the locals to mine it in the way they saw fit, which was by digging a hole around the mines and venturing inside at a depth of about 20 feet and then proceeding horizontally across to get the coal out. It was the same with limestone. Geologists have maintained all along that mining of coal scientifically is not a viable proposition. After Meghalaya attained Statehood in 1972, coal exploration was taken up by the State Directorate of Mining and Geology and the Geological Institute of India to ascertain its commercial viability. Earlier coal was mined from the Sohra region of East Khasi Hills. Later coal was found occurring in large parts of Jaintia Hills, West Khasi Hills and Garo Hills. Late Prof. G..G.. Swell who was the Lok Sabha MP in the 70’s wrote to the then Union Minister for Mines that Meghalaya be allowed to proceed with what is now the most famous phrase – rat hole mining which he said was the traditional way of mining coal |
| `In' analytical Note | Dialogue Vol.16, No.1; Jul-Sep.2014: p.18-23 |
| Journal Source | Dialogue 2014-09 16, 1 |
| Standard Number | Geopolitics |