NGT ban fallout: Sohra residents hit

SHILLONG:  While urging the State Government to find out ways and means to create an alternative for the people of Sohra to earn their livelihood, Sohra legislator Titostarwell Chyne said that many of them would die of hunger since they are jobless following the ban of the NGT to ban coal mining in the State.
“There is hue and cry among the people of Sohra since they are not sure about their future,” Chyne said while participating in the discussion on the budget in the Assembly on Wednesday.
While quoting one of the families, he said that they would all die once the stock of rice in their house is exhausted.
He said that coal mining in Sohra area has started about 100 years ago.
“There is no other opportunity in Sohra. The Government should arrange as some special project to provide job to the thousands of the people who are jobless,” Chyne said.
The Sohra legislator also raised the issue about the failure of the Government to appoint the headmaster and principal in several Government schools and colleges in the State for the past two years.
Chyne also raised the issue about the failure of the Government to launch the much talked about affordable housing scheme for the weaker section of the society.
Meanwhile, Chyne urged upon the State Government to approve the pending bills which was passed by the KHADC in the past few years. “There are some bills which were passed five years back,” he said while also urging the State Government to provide necessary support to the Autonomous District Councils (ADCs) which is the custody to promote and protect the culture and practices of the indigenous population of the State.