Council needs to formulate legislations to prevent State government from intruding into its jurisdiction, says HSPDP MDC
SHILLONG: Sohryngkham MDC Pyniaid Sing Syiem (HSPDP) on Wednesday suggested that the KHADC should have its own ‘Mining Policy’ to prevent the State Government from intruding in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of the District Council.
The MDC stated that he had come up with this suggestion while recalling the difficulties faced by the villagers in earning their livelihood in view of the prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC imposed by the East Khasi Hills District Administration with regards to mining of sand and stone and activities at stone quarries.
The District Administration had imposed Section 144 CrPC banning stone and sand quarrying but the move had created a hue and cry among the villagers, Syiem said while participating in the general discussion on the vote on account on Wednesday.
“As per the provisions of the Sixth Schedule, the district Council is the custodian of the land and mineral resources within its own jurisdiction. However, the failure of the Council to come up with appropriate legislations to protect the land and mineral resources under its authority has allowed the State government to impose its own decisions in areas falling under the Council,” Syiem said.
The HSPDP MDC further argued that the only way to prevent this kind of situation in future is that the Council comes up with its own Mining Policy that would ensure protection of the livelihood of the people.
In his reply, KHADC CEM Adelbert Nongrum said that the Executive Committee would examine this suggestion and added that the Council was concerned over the grievances of the people.