State mining draft arbitrary, allege miners

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By Our Reporter

 SHILLONG: The coal and limestone miners from the entire State under the banner of Joint Forum on Mining Policy have alleged that the mining policy draft has been prepared without taking the views and suggestions put forward by the Forum into consideration.

According to the Forum, the State Government not only ignored the views of the miners and traditional heads of the State, but also of the political parties while preparing the final draft.

Referring to meetings between Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Mining and Geology, BM Lanong and the Forum besides district council members to take views of the different stakeholders before preparing the draft, the Forum said the Government did not honour the views suggested in those meetings.

Lanong had invited the Forum, the district councils besides other organisations to at least three meetings wherein he had assured that the final draft would incorporate their suggestions.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, the Forum’s president Honsen Lyngdoh said the mining policy draft finalised by the Government does not cater to the greater interest of the people of the State.

The Forum comprising coal and limestone miners from East Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills, Garo Hills and Ri-Bhoi districts has now decided to oppose the draft policy if the views of the land owners, Syiems, Nokmas, Dolois and district councils are not taken into consideration.

“We want coordination between us and the government on the matter,” Lyngdoh said.

Pointing out to the Sixth Schedule status of the State, general secretary of the Forum, Almerik Sohkhlet said, “Meghalaya is not a government land and the government cannot just take decisions on its own in drafting the policy.”

“The government should respect the 6th Schedule,” he added.

The Forum has already submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Chief Minister stating its opposition to the final draft of the Mining Policy.

The minister recently said the final draft is ready and it would be forwarded to the Cabinet for its approval by the end of this month.

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