Committee on coal to submit reports by February end
Our Correspondent
Kohima | February 25
Minister for Geology and mining V Kashiho Sangtam today informed the floor of the House that the state of Nagaland has its coal policy in place, namely Nagaland Coal Policy, 2006 and Nagaland Coal Mining Rules, 2006.
Replying this to MLA YM Yollow in starred question, the minister said the Nagaland Coal Policy and Rules 2006 (First Amendment) 2014 is being enforced in the state.
However, the minister stated that presently the cabinet in its meeting on January 7 has banned illegal coal mining across the state and imposed a provisional mining ban on firms and companies, which have been issued with mining licences.
Accordingly, a committee headed by the secretary Geology and Mining in coordination with department of environment, forest and climate change, Nagaland Pollution Control Board, District administration and police and inter Ministerial Team (IMT) would separately examine the issue of coal mining and the resultant damages caused to the environment, he said.
The Committee and the IMT would submit their respective reports to the government by the end of February 2019.
Later, replying to MLA Yitachu, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio stated that the Nagaland Legislative Assembly had not passed Nagaland Vigilance Act.
