SHILLONG: KHADC CEM Adelbert Nongrum has come down heavily on the State government for its failure to put in place a proper mining policy even as he lauded the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for imposing ban on coal mining in the State.
“It is really sad that instead of the State Government the tribunal has to step in to put an end to the rampant unscientific mining which has been taking place in the State for a long time,” Nongrum said here on Tuesday.
Speaking at a programme organized to commemorate the 152nd death anniversary of legendary freedom fighter U Kiang Nangbah, the KHADC CEM said, “The people who are running the Government machinery are against having a mining policy since majority of them have their own coal mines. They are not bothered about the destruction the unscientific mining has been causing to the environment.”
Nongrum also slammed the High Court of Meghalaya for the ruling which according to him would destabilize various traditional institutions of the State.
“The court cannot pass this kind of judgment only on the ground that the traditional bodies do not have their own written laws. The court cannot overlook the practice and convention which the traditional bodies have been following since time immemorial,” he said. He also indicated that the council would file an appeal before the division bench to challenge this ruling.
“If we fail to get a judgment in our favour, the council will not hesitate to move a higher court,” KHADC CEM said.
Nongrum also slammed the State Government for making MIL (Khasi language) an elective subject at the higher secondary level.