Former ANVC-B leader opposes Govt move to mine coal

SHILLONG: Former ANVC-B leader Bernard Marak, while objecting to the proposal of Government to entrust MMDC to carry out coal mining, said on Saturday that district councils should deal with the matter.
“People of Khasi-Janitia and Garo Hills are the absolute authorities of land in the hill areas. It is wrong on the side of the State Government to intrude into the jurisdiction of the hill tribals,” Marak said in a statement.
Marak said the State cannot exploit tribal land and its resources on pretext of some rules which do not apply to scheduled and excluded hill areas. “It is the duty of the autonomous district councils to frame proper regulation for mining,” he said.