Nagaland move to regulate mining

KOHIMA, July 31 – In a bid to regulate coal mining in Nagaland, the State Government has suspended issuance of new coal prospecting licenses (CPL) till further orders.

In a notification, Chief secretary Lalthara said CPL holders have to obtain coal mining lease (CML) against their CPLs before the start of the next mining season.

It also said that hereafter, extraction of coal would not be allowed to any coal operators not possessing valid CML or short term mining licenses (STML).

Officials would now issue mine closure notices to illegal coal operators and CPL holders till they obtain valid CML or STML.

The government said challans would be issued to check gates against only those coal carrying trucks belonging to CML holders while trucks not possessing CML would be seized.