MP warns of socio-economic mayhem over NGT ban
NEW DELHI: Former Union Minister and Shillong MP, Vincent H Pala, on Monday presaged grave socio-economic turmoil in Meghalaya including rise in militancy and deep social unrest if the Centre did not take ‘corrective’ steps to assuage the crisis arising out of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ban on rat-hole mining in the hill state.
In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pala, himself a coal baron, demanded that the Centre must immediately step in to roll out alternative rehabilitation scheme for the workers, their dependents, mine owners and cement factories who have been suffering endlessly because of the ‘mindless orders’ of the NGT.
“The Centre should also review the ban and provide assistance to the affected people and the State of Meghalaya which is also losing revenue on account of the ban,” he said.
“Kindly save the coal mine owners, workers, migrant labourers and industries dependent on this business,” Pala urged the prime Minister, adding that an immediate rehabilitation package is imperative to salvage the situation.
Pala in his letter argued that the blanket ban has been imposed without any alternative employment or economic engagement. Banning the age old practice is also against constitutional rights since in the Hill State, the mining land belongs to the residents, he said.
The former Union Minister pointed out that many cement plants in the State and even in neighbouring Bangladesh which depend on coal from Meghalaya have been closed causing colossal losses. This has caused an economic blackout since cement plants are the main industry in Meghalaya.
On April 17 last, NGT had banned coal mining in Meghalaya following complaint by the All Dimasa Students’ Union and the Dima Hasao district committee of Assam.
The students’ body had alleged serious impact on environment, mainly drinking water sources, due to the rat hole mining in Meghalaya. Coal miners pleaded before the Tribunal to review the decision.
The Tribunal has permitted, however, the transportation of already extracted coal lying in the open near the mining sites but Pala questioned the method of distribution of the royalty out of this relaxation.
The royalty goes to the State Government and the District Councils instead of the mine owners and workers, he argued.
