By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: With just over a couple of days left to draw curtains on 2012, the year will be remembered for passing of several flawed bills by Mukul Sangma-led MUA government which came under severe criticism from several quarters.
Topping the list is the Lokayukta Bill, 2012 which the Government passed forcibly in the Winter Assembly Session amid opposition from MLAs from both the Treasury and Opposition benches.
Besides the legislators, the anti-graft NGOs had held a demonstration inside the Assembly premises and even burnt the copies of the ‘flawed’ Lokayukta Bill to express their resentment over the decision of the Government.
The anti-graft organisations also urged Governor RS Mooshahary to withhold his assent to the Bill.
The Government came under scanner for passing of the flawed Meghalaya Forest Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2012 for redefining the meaning of the word ‘forest’.
The Government passed the Amendment Bill during the recent Winter Assembly Session without taking the general public into confidence.
There is a general feeling that the main purpose of the Bill is to convert actual forest areas into non-forest areas and consequently bring them outside purview of Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
Another controversial Bill, the Meghalaya Mines and Mineral Policy, 2012, failed to prohibit rat-hole mining prevalent in the State leading to severe criticism from many of the stakeholders.
While defending the decision of not banning rat hole mining, Deputy Chief Minister BM Lanong had said even the Central Government has not interfered with the prevalent rat-hole mining system in the State.
The Government also came under fire for the move to allow Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the mining sector. Following severe criticism from various quarters, Lanong finally clarified, “FDI is a Central subject and the State Government would have to get an approval from the Centre to bring it in the State.”
The Congress-led MUA Government also faced severe criticism after the Cabinet approved the new Meghalaya Industrial and Investment Promotion Policy 2012 which is allegedly against the interest of the indigenous population of the State.
Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, however, had claimed that the new policy, which replaced the industrial policy of 1997, would help empower the local entrepreneurs besides checking rampant purchase of land by industries.
The Government also drew flak for the delay in the passing of the much talked about State Youth Policy.
The reason for the delay in finalizing the policy has been attributed to the continuous receipt of relevant suggestions which forced the Sports and Youth Affairs department to extend its deadline for filing suggestions on the draft policy.
SOMALA had also expressed their opposition to the State Government’s fresh order to revoke its earlier executive order as far as setting up of educational institutions and universities in the State is concerned.
Earlier, pending the amendment of the Meghalaya Land Transfer (Regulation) Act, 1971, the State Government had issued an executive order which put on hold the transfer of land to non-tribal entities.
However, in a change of stand, the new order exempted educational institutions and universities.