Meghalaya Chief Minister Seeks Delegation of Coal Mining Powers

Why in news

Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma requested the Union Government to delegate coal mining statutory powers to the state to accommodate tribal land tenure systems.

Background

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned rat-hole coal mining in 2014. The Supreme Court has affirmed tribal landowners' rights over coal and minerals, provided they comply with statutory and environmental regulations.

Facts for Prelims

• PlaceMeghalaya: A North-Eastern state in India.
• FactSixth Schedule: Provides special protections for tribal areas in Meghalaya, including land tenure.
• BodyNational Green Tribunal (NGT): A specialized body for environmental dispute resolution.

For Mains

Q. Discuss the challenges of balancing mineral extraction with tribal land rights and environmental conservation in India's Sixth Schedule areas.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

• Jurisdictional friction: Conflict between Central mineral mining regulations and State-specific tribal land tenure protections.
• Environmental-Economic trade-off: Balancing the ban on rat-hole mining with the livelihood needs of small tribal coal holders.
• Regulatory bottleneck: Complexity of obtaining mining approvals for small-scale tribal holders under current central mechanisms.

Keywords: Sixth Schedule · Tribal Rights · Mineral Governance · Federalism · Sustainable Mining

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