Coal mining regulations hit Article 371A wall in Nagaland

Article 371A of the Constitution of India has been the major hurdle in the Nagaland government’s efforts to regulate small-scale illegal coal mining activities in the State. The coalition government headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has been under pressure to regulate coal mining activities after six miners died in an explosion in a rat-hole mine near Ruchyan village in the Wokha district on January 25

GUWAHATI Article 371A of the Constitution of India has been the major hurdle in the Nagaland government’s efforts to regulate small-scale illegal coal mining activities in the State.

Specific to Nagaland, Article 371A has special provisions guaranteeing the protection of land and its resources apart from the Naga customary law and procedure.

The coalition government headed by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has been under pressure to regulate coal mining activities after six miners died in an explosion in a rat-hole mine near Ruchyan village in the Wokha district on January 25.

On February 27, Mr. Rio and Deputy Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang told the Nagaland Assembly that Article 371A had impeded ensuring scientific mining of coal across five districts in the State.

These five districts are Longleng, Mokokchung, Mon, Tuensang, and Wokha. According to the State’s Geology and Mining Department, 45 coal mining licence holders operate in these districts.

Raising the issue during the second day of the Assembly’s budget session, National People’s Party MLA Nuklutoshi Longkumer said numerous illegal and unscientific coal mining operations were posing a serious threat to human and environmental health in Nagaland.

The Chief Minister agreed but attributed the difficulty in making these mines accountable to the special Constitutional provisions for the State and the prevalent land-holding system giving ownership to the community.