SHILLONG: The State Government’s draft mining policy, which has emphasized on scientific and sustainable mining practices in the State, has not put a blanket ban on rat-hole mining prevalent in the state.

Revealing this here on Wednesday, Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Mining and Geology departments Bindo M Lanong said, “We have not put a ban on the unscientific rat-hole mining taking into consideration the interest of the miners who are carrying out the task on a smaller scale.”