SHILLONG: The HNLC has threatened to call a 12-hour bandh on June 3 if the National Green Tribunal (NGT) does not revoke its ban on mining of coal during its hearing on June 2.
In a statement issued to the media on Thursday, the publicity secretary of HNLC, Sainkupar Nongtraw said that “keeping in mind the interests, first and foremost the livelihoods of our Hynniewtrep people, the HNLC is of the view that if the ban by NGT is not revoked on June 2, the Council will declare a 12-hour shutdown of the entire Khasi and Jaintia Hills on June 3 from 6am to 6pm”.
According to Nongtraw, the tribunal’s ban has created a situation where the livelihood of thousands of families would be affected for pleasing just a few and if the NGT has an alternate option to provide employment to all the lakhs of people affected by the ban, then the council has no problems with it. “At least the NGT should have given the people involved in the businesses a minimum of one year to plan their options before imposing the ban,” HNLC said
The outfit also pointed out that the entire Shillong By pass construction and its objective fails if the coal laden trucks do not ply on the road and the government had spent at least Rs 2000 crore for the project.
HNLC also urged people who have been affected by the ban to observe the shutdown as a protest against the Government of India and the NGT. “This will be the first stage of rebellion by the HNLC and it will follow with many more in the days to come until and unless the Government of India looks for a solution”, HNLC said. The outfit, however, exempted medical attendants, ambulance services, hospitals, media persons and religious activities from the purview of the bandh.