Probe impact of coal mining ban: CM to media

SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma wants the media to conduct a study on the impact of the NGT ban on coal mining which, he says, has a cascading effect on the lives of the people who solely depended on coal mining without looking for alternate sources of revenue.
“I know people who took away their children from schools and boarding houses after the ban on coal mining as they solely depended on coal mining,” Sangma said.
The Chief Minister also cited the example of another group of people who sold their vehicles at throwaway prices within six months of the ban on mining.
“This means that those who benefitted in the process are not the owners of the coal mines but others who were involved in the business as only nominal income came to the owners whereas maximum profit went to others associated with the coal business,” Sangma said and added that people should turn to tourism as an alternate source of revenue.