SHILLONG: The Movement for Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Livelihood- Meghalaya (MIPRL) has decided to go ahead with indefinite economic strike from Tuesday at 5 am as the talks between the Government and the Movement for Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and Livelihood- Meghalaya (MIPRL) on various aspects related to coal mining including payment of royalty did not take place on Monday.The strike will paralyse the inter-state transport of trucks carrying goods and other essential items.
Moreover, movement of all petroleum product tankers and inter- state passenger transport will also be affected.
The MIPRL has rejected the meeting called by the Government since it did not give any assurance on their 10 charter of demands.
In a statement issued here on Monday, the Vice Chairman of (MIPRL) Erwin K. Syiem Sutnga said that the MIPRL received a letter from the Government calling for a meeting on the indefinite economic strike call at 3 pm in the office chamber of the Chief Secretary.
“The letter arrived late and could not be considered by the Steering Committee of MIPRL at such short notice. Moreover there was no reference to or assurances on the 10 point issues raised by the MIPRL including the vexatious and oppressive condition of the royalty payment as ordered by the NGT Committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary, KS Kropha.
MIPRL Vice Chairman reiterated that any call for talks on the economic strike should include the positive action taken report of the Government to amend the guidelines framed for the satisfaction of the NGT but which are grievously against the rights of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo people and against the tradition.
“MIPRL is amenable to talks which will bring out positive results for the benefit of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo people but the assurances have to come from the head of the Government, the Chief Minister of Meghalaya”, Sutnga said
According to MIPRL, the NGT Committee should not impose conditions which are in the nature of harassment as the coal owners, coal producers and coal traders are not be able to fulfill the conditions.
“One example of the harassment is the present condition for advance payment of royalties and cess which will further bring misery to the cash strapped stakeholders”, Sutnga said.
The Government has in fact allowed the transportation and sale of coal in the depots but the conditions imposed are tantamount to stopping the same, MIPRL said.
“The condition imposed to pay the royalty within 14 days is oppressive and given the present situation will result in economic chaos while filling up the coffers of Government”, Sutnga said
The clause to punish the coal mine owners under section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957 and under Section 177 of the IPC is vindictive and displays the mindset of the bureaucracy which imposes acts like the 1957 Act which does not apply to Meghalaya and contradicts Para 12 A Sub Para (b) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India, he said.
The MIPRL also expressed concern over the apathy on the part of the Government in providing relief measures for the affected people due to ban on coal mining
The MIPRL wanted the Government to review the present Meghalaya Mines and Minerals Policy, 2012 which is against the traditional rights of the Khasi, Jaintia and Garo tribal people. Sutgna also said that the coal supply to MCCL should not be stopped as it will affect the livelihood of the MCCL employees.
There are reports of large number of school drop outs in the affected areas. “Government is requested to ensure remedial measures to ensure enrolment of student in the coal mining areas”, Sutnga said.
Moreover, Sutnga said that coal and transport operators who have availed finance to buy vehicle, heavy equipments and other machineries are now put in dire financial situation due to the blanket ban of coal by the NGT.
The MIPR also suggested that it is necessary for the State Government to move and pass a resolution to exempt from the purview of the NGT Act Para 12 A Sub Para (b) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India in the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly. This demand includes the modification of all central laws applied to the State of Meghalaya done without recourse to the mandatory provisions of Para 12 A Sub Para (b).
The coal miners also wanted the Meghalaya Government to move the Centre to de-notify the jurisdiction of the NGT from Meghalaya by resorting to the provision of the Sub Section 3 of Section 4 of the NGT Act 2010.
Another demand is that Government should come out with a white paper on the allegation of child labour in the coal mining areas by certain NGOs who have made wide national and international publicity in this regard.