Govt to regulate sand mining
SHILLONG: To combat rampant mining in the state, the State government has decided to put in place regulations and provide alternative options for sustainable livelihood for those involved in the activity.
Announcing this here on Wednesday, Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma, however, ruled out the possibility of putting a blanket ban on sand mining.
“It is not necessary to ban but what is required is regulation of all these activities.” Dr Sangma told reporters on the sidelines of a review meeting here.
“We need to embark upon a system of engagement with these stakeholders who are engaging in sand and stone quarrying or any other activities as their livelihood and accordingly prevail upon them to take up various other options of livelihood programmes which the departments concerned can provide.”
He also said that the concerned departments had been directed to identify locations where sand mining could be allowed.
The Chief Minister’s statement assumes significance in the wake of sand mining activities across the state where hills are being razed to the ground affecting water sources and the flora and fauna.
In August, the National Green Tribunal had issued a restraint order against all sand mining activities without environmental clearance.
ROAD SCHEME: Meghalaya government is running against time to complete the construction of 1600 km of roads in the state under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) scheme.
Talking to media persons after reviewing twenty programme of the Union Government, the Chief Minister informed that under the new funding pattern Meghalaya has to complete 1600 kilometers of road within 2015.
“It means we do not have much time,” Sangma told reporters.
However, the department has done DPR (Detailed Project Report ) of 800 kilometers of roads only.
Out of the 800 KMs of roads, the department has been able to complete the tendering process of around 200 KMs of road.
According to Dr Sangma, Government has been quite slow when it comes to the implementation of connectivity and there are various factors including terrain and inaccessibility of the areas are responsible for the slow implementation of the schemes.
He stated that Government has asked the concerned department to speed up the entire process.