From Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI: Parliament witnessed high voltage brouhaha over the ongoing crisis in Meghalaya following a ban on rat-hole coal mining by the National Green Tribunal.
As soon as the Minister for Environment and Forests stood up to reply on the debate for grants on his ministry, BJD MP from Odisha, Pinaki Mishra and Shillong MP Vincent H Pala demanded to know what the Government is doing for thousands of people affected due to the NGT ban.
The Minister, Prakash Javedkar said that his ministry is consulting both the Meghalaya Government and the NGT on the issue.
There has to be a balance between the overall environment and livelihood of the common people, the Minister said. But even before he could reply, senior BJP leader, S S Ahuluwalia questioned as to how Mishra, who pleaded for the miners in the court, can plead the same case in Lok Sabha since it involves “pecuniary benefits.”
While Ahuluwalia was supported by all the BJP MPs present, Mishra tired to shout him down stating that he, as a lawyer, knows the subject more than the ruling party member. He was supported by Pala.
Mishra said that the Centre must consult the State Government and the NGT and take a firm decision. “Thousands of poor people are suffering since the mining going on for decades has been done away with all of a sudden,” he said.
Pala, who has already moved two bills in the Lok Sabha on the ban on rat hole mining and jurisdiction of NGT in tribal areas, said that a grave socio-economic disaster is looming over the mining areas in the Hill State.
“The Centre must intervene at the earliest and take a firm decision on this issue,” he said.