Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday said the state government is actively negotiating to bring down the 100-hectare land requirement for scientific coal mining, a condition that he acknowledged has made it difficult for small miners to participate in the new regulated mining framework.
Speaking to reporters, Sangma said discussions are underway to reduce the minimum land threshold, with the government pressing for a limit as low as 10 hectares, keeping in mind the ground realities of Meghalaya’s predominantly small-scale mining community.
The chief minister described the introduction of the licensing system and the transition to scientific mining as a major breakthrough after years of uncertainty in the coal sector, a report said.
However, he stressed that the process must evolve further to become more inclusive.
The chief minister said the government is exploring phased reductions in the land requirement — from 100 hectares to 50, 40 and eventually even 5 to 10 hectares — to ensure broader participation.
Defending the earlier acceptance of the 100-hectare requirement, Sangma said the decision was taken under compulsion to restart the stalled mining sector.
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He explained that Meghalaya’s unique land ownership system and legal structure meant the state was entering an untested regulatory territory, with no clear roadmap or precedents.
According to Sangma, the Centre had initially made it clear that large land parcels were essential to attract “serious players” and establish credibility in the scientific mining framework.
Faced with limited options, the state chose to move forward with the condition to ensure that regulated mining could begin at least in some form.
He said the government is now working on a second phase of reforms, where miners are being encouraged to pool land holdings to meet existing requirements, while parallel negotiations continue to reduce the threshold so that small and traditional miners are not excluded from the formal mining system.
The chief minister said the state remains committed to making scientific coal mining both legally sustainable and socially inclusive, ensuring environmental compliance while protecting livelihoods in mining-dependent communities.
