Shillong, Sep 28: Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong on Wednesday admitted that the state’s revenue generation has decreased and blamed the lack of coal trade for the loss.
Tynsong said while transportation of the already extracted coal is underway, the auction was done by Coal India and not the government, which is another reason for the low revenue.
He said the state government has to strictly follow the MMDR Act for starting legal mining.
“Quite a number of them have already applied for mining leases and the process is on. I am sure very soon we will be able to issue the final mining lease to those lessees, but it should be according to the law,” Tynsong said.
To a query, the deputy chief minister said, “See I cannot say because now the application is flowing in. Anybody can apply but you need to also meet the criteria, you need to also do your document work as per the prescribed norms of the MMDR Act.”
Regarding the incomplete projects, Tynsong said in fact there are so many challenges which include two years of the Covid pandemic.
“We have just started working this year only after February and March but I am telling you we wanted to complete those incomplete projects and we are committed to complete them at the earliest possible,” he said.
However, he added, “If we are able to complete the Crowborough Hotel, which is not less than 37 years, so why not other projects. I am sure we will be able to complete them as well.”
