Move afoot for smooth legal mining in hill districts of Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State government has taken measures to legalize mining in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts to augment revenue generation without affecting the environment. The KAAC (Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council) and the HCHAC (North Cachar Hill Autonomous Council) support the State government towards this end.

The twin hill districts are rich in minerals. However, legal mining in the hill districts is almost nil due to administrative hurdles. However, illegal mining goes on in some areas. That does not contribute any revenue to the state exchequer.

The State government is drafting an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for legal mining in the two districts. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma will finalize it.

The purpose of the move is to legalize smooth mining in the two hill districts and generate revenue.

Talking to The Sentinel, Mines and Minerals Minister Jogen Mohan said, "The Chief Minister discussed the issue with the two autonomous councils and the top officials of the Mines and Minerals Department on December 3. The meeting agreed in principle to legalize the exploration of major and minor minerals in the two districts. We need an SOP for this purpose.

"The existing administrative hurdles make it very difficult for legal mining in the two districts. It is why the legal mineral exploration in the two districts is minimal.

"In the existing system, the royalty share between the State Government and the autonomous councils concerned is 40:60. However, following a request from the two autonomous councils, the government has changed the ratio of royalty share to 30:70.

The two councils and the government use the royalty obtained from mining exploration for developmental purposes. After the finalization of the SOP, the department will issue tenders following both state and central Acts and allot exploration works. "NOCs (No objection certificates) are a must from the autonomous council concerned and the State Government for exploration. The two autonomous councils have the right to cancel the NOCs if they find any anomalies in exploration works."

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