Meghalaya Minor Minerals Reclamation Fund Management Authority
MMMRFMA
Introduction
The Meghalaya Minor Mineral Reclamation Fund (MMMRF) was established by the State Government in strict compliance with the Judgment and Order of the Hon'ble High Court of Meghalaya, dated 30th June 2015, in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 140 of 2014. To reclaim the damage caused to forests and the environment by mining activities, the Authority operates firmly on the 'polluter shall pay' principle.
Under Rule 31 of the Meghalaya Minor Minerals Concession Rules, 2016, all lease and permit holders are mandated to deposit an environmental reclamation fee. This fee amounts to not less than ten percent (10%) of the sale proceeds of the minor minerals (such as limestone and boulders) extracted under their licence.
The 'Meghalaya Minor Minerals Reclamation Fund Management Guidelines, 2022' provide the comprehensive legal and operational framework ensuring that the fund is utilised in an expeditious, efficient, and highly transparent manner for ecological restoration and constitution of Meghalaya Minor Minerals Reclamation Fund Management Authority.
Meghalaya Minor Minerals Reclamation Fund Management Authority
Headquartered in the Office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force, Shillong, the Authority operates through a robust two-tier governance structure to ensure expert oversight and accountability.
The Governing Body
The apex decision-making organ, responsible for formulating broad policy frameworks, approving annual budgets, audited accounts and the annual plan of operations.
- Chairperson: Minister in-charge, Forests and Environment Department.
- Vice Chairperson: Chief Secretary of Meghalaya.
- Members: Senior-most Secretaries of Finance, Planning, Mining and Geology, Rural Development, Soil & Water Conservation, Water Resources, District Council Affairs and Law.
- Ex-officio Members: Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & HoFF, Chief Wildlife Warden, Chairperson of the State Pollution Control Board, Financial Advisor and The CEO of the Executive Committee.
- Member Secretary: Secretary in-charge of the Forest and Environment Department.
The Executive Committee
Tasked with examining operational plans, monitoring projects, and making recommendations to the Governing Body.
- Chairperson: Additional Chief Secretary/Secretary In-charge of the Forest and Environment Department.
- Vice Chairperson: Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & HoFF.
- Members: Chief Wildlife Warden.
- Ex-officio Members: Senior-most officer in office of PCCF & HoFF dealing with minor minerals, development schemes, forestry research / Member Secretary of State Forest Development Agnecy / CEO of Meghalaya Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management & Planning Authority / Directors in the Departments dealing with Rural Development, Soil & Water Conservation, Water Resources, Mining & Geology / CFO of each Autonomous District Council / Member Secretary of Meghalaya State pollution Control Board / Finance & Accounts Officer, office of the PCCF & HoFF / Representative of 2 eminent NGO working in the fields of forest, wildlife & environment to be nominated by Govt. / 3 Experts - an environmentalist, a conservationist & a social scientists to be nominated by Govt.
- Member Secretary: Chief Executive Officer.
Eligible Implementing Agencies
Under Paragraph 26 of the 2022 Guidelines, agencies eligible to receive funding for approved reclamation works include:
- Divisions in the Forests and Environment Department
- Forest Development Agencies
- Mining and Geology Department
- Community and Rural Development Department
- Forests Department in Autonomous District Councils
- Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board
- Eco-Development Society of Meghalaya
- Water Resources Department
- Soil & Water Conservation Department
Fund Management & Financial Protocols
The management of the MMMRF is strictly governed by Chapter II of the 2022 Guidelines to ensure complete financial integrity.
Collection and Credit
Every authority permitting the transportation or in-situ use of minor minerals ensures that environmental reclamation fees are paid. All monies are deposited into interest-bearing accounts in nationalised banks, safely managed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Investment of Surplus Funds
Surplus monies are invested in Government Bonds, Securities, and nationalised banks through a competitive bidding process, ensuring the highest interest rates. Not more than twenty percent (20%) of the total surplus money is invested in any single nationalised bank at any given point in time.
Monitoring & Administrative Expenditure Limit
The fund strictly prioritises on-ground ecological restoration: money spent on monitoring, evaluation, and administrative expenses during a year shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the total money spent from the fund during that year.
Core Mandate & Focus Areas
The environmental reclamation fee and accrued interest are utilised exclusively for the following statutory purposes:
Reclamation of Illegal & Abandoned Mines
Site-specific planning, soil and moisture conservation, slope stabilisation (benching/terracing), rollover slopes, backfilling, and restoration blasting. Barren quarries are transformed into wildlife habitats, recreational facilities, reservoirs, and grazing lands. Critical attention is given to treating polluting discharge and Acid Mine Drainage (AMD).
Restoration of Forests, Habitats & Environment
Afforestation of blank patches, restocking of degraded forests, prevention of forest fires, rejuvenation of water springs, and restoration of natural wildlife corridors damaged by mining operations.
Creation of Alternate Ecological Services
Investment in alternate corridors, conservation breeding centres, protection of sacred groves, and the promotion of ecologically prudent livelihoods for local communities to reduce pressure on recovering forests.
Prevention of Illegal Mining
Surveying prone areas, establishing satellite and drone-based detection systems, creating check gates, acquiring patrol vehicles, and operating intelligence networks to curtail illegal mining and transportation.
Planting Stock Infrastructure
Establishment and maintenance of nurseries, seed production areas, seedling orchards, and tissue culture laboratories to support massive afforestation.
Project Implementation Process
- Project Planning Eligible implementing agencies identify restoration needs and prepare activity proposals with estimated costs, measurable outcomes and implementation timelines.
- Annual Plan of Operations Proposed activities are brought into the Authority’s Annual Plan of Operations (APO) and annual budget.
- Executive Committee Review The Executive Committee examines the APO and budget, proposes necessary modifications and recommends them to the Governing Body.
- Governing Body Approval The Governing Body approves the APO and annual budget.
- Sanction and Fund Release The CEO communicates expenditure sanction and releases funds quarterly to the designated implementing agencies.
- Project Execution Implementing agencies carry out approved activities in accordance with applicable financial rules and prescribed conditions.
- Monitoring and Evaluation The Authority and implementing agencies monitor implementation, supported by third-party monitoring and periodic evaluation.
- Reporting and Audit The Authority examines the annual report and audited accounts and submits them to the Government.
Key Projects
The Authority takes pride in several high-impact projects that align with the guidelines for restoring ecological balance and preventing future degradation.
Forest Survey and Mapping
Implemented by the Meghalaya Biodiversity Board and executed by NECTAR, this Rs. 24.95 Crore project used a hybrid approach (Airborne Sensors/Helicopters/UAVs) to map the total reserved forest area in Meghalaya. Using LiDAR and Hyperspectral technology, the project analysed carbon financing potential and generated Phyto-Diversity heat maps to support large-scale afforestation and carbon credit generation.
Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC)
Budgeted at Rs. 15.32 Crores and executed by MIDCL, the ICCC is the technological nervous system for forest management. Located at Sylvan House, Shillong, it uses ICT tools for the digitisation of forest boundaries, real-time fire hazard management, wildlife tracking, and an integrated Forest Offences Management System to thwart illegal mining.