Shillong : The Meghalaya government’s standard operating procedure (SOP) for coal mining has been criticized for creating a monopoly that favours wealthy business tycoons.

The policy, notified on March 5, 2021, requires a minimum area of 100 hectares for prospecting licenses and mining leases, effectively shutting out small coal traders and local indigenous people who cannot afford such large tracts of land.

Regeenal Shylla, a member of the State Coordination Coal, Miners Dealers and Transporters Association, argued that this policy exploits the land of local people, forcing them to sell to wealthy tycoons.

He pointed out that there is no such provision in the Mineral Concession Rules, 2016, and that the policy goes against the MMDR Act, 1957, which sets the minimum area for mining leases at four hectares.

The association has challenged the SOP in the Meghalaya High Court, questioning the state government’s authority to set the minimum area limit.

Shylla argued that the policy is liable to be scrapped by the court, as it is not empowered by law and seeks to benefit only a few business tycoons.