‘State hasn’t done anything to resolve matter’
SHILLONG: Tura MP Conrad Sangma has slammed the State Government for not making any concerted effort to address the crisis arising from the NGT ban on coal mining in Meghalaya.
Stating that the matter was lingering for a bit too long, Sangma called for a balanced approach on the entire issue taking note of the fact that it concerned the protection of environment and livelihood of the people.
The Tura MP claimed that he was in touch with the concerned stakeholders and the Central Government authorities on the matter. Sangma also called for a joint effort of one and all to arrive at a solution on the issue.
Last week, the State Government had decided to move the Centre seeking exemption of Meghalaya from the purview of the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973, in the wake of the NGT ban on rat-hole coal mining in the State.
The State Cabinet also authorized the Mining and Geology department to urge the Central Government to exempt coal mining in the State from the purview of the Act.
The ‘green court’ had ordered an interim ban on “rat-hole” coal mining in Meghalaya on April 17, 2014, after the All Dimasa Students’ Union and the Dima Hasao District Committee filed an application before the tribunal alleging that the water of the Kopili river was turning acidic due to coal mining in the Jaintia Hills area.