By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Cabinet’s decision to allow Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in mining sector and refusal to prohibit rate-hole mining in Meghalaya Mines and Mineral Policy, 2012 has drawn sharp reactions with the Opposition Nationalist People’s Party (NPP) dubbing it as ‘eyewash’.
According to the NPP leader James K Sangma, the State Mining Policy is a meaningless exercise.
“The Government has come up with the policy, which is only an eyewash, keeping the upcoming Assembly election in mind,” Sangma said on Saturday.
“How can a Government think of a mining policy without bringing a blanket ban on primitive rat-hole mining?” he asked.
The State Cabinet on Friday approved the controversial Meghalaya Mines and Minerals Policy which allows miners to continue with rat-hole coal mining.
Deputy Chief Minister Bindo Lanong, who also handles the mining and geology portfolio, on Friday said, “There will be war if we do away with rat-hole mining.”
“To bring in FDI means one has to go for scientific ways of mining. But this is not going to happen if the government does not do away with rat-hole mining,” he said.
The NPP legislator said the Government should have addressed various issues like safety of miners and keeping a check on deployment of child labour in mines.
The decision to allow FDI in mining sector is going to have a huge impact on small time miners, he said.
Echoing a similar view, the BJP also opposed the government decision to allow FDI in mining sector.
According BJP general secretary Dipayan Chakraborty, the Government should have roped in investment from within the country
Referring to Lafarge, Chakraborty said, “The FDI will lead to sellout of the natural resources of the State.”
“The Government should have taken steps to convince the small time miners to adopt scientific form of mining,” Chakraborty said.
On the other hand, Prof BS Mipun, Dean, NEHU School of Human and Environmental Science, has a different take on rat-hole mining.
According to him, rat-hole mining is far better than open cast mining.
“Open-cast mining creates more environmental pollution when compared to rat-hole mining,” he said
As the State does have huge deposits of coal, Prof Mipun said, “Rat-hole mining is the only option.”
When pointed out about the risks on the life of miners who resort to rat-hole mining, Prof Mipun said untoward incidents could take place anywhere.
According to him, FDI is the only solution for the country like India and the small time miners would be benefited more with the coming of such investment.