SHILLONG: The Centre has come under criticism for lack of interest in addressing coal mining issues in Meghalaya.
John F Kharshiing,Chairman,Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya, and Spokesperson, Federation of Khasi State said on Friday that the official minutes regarding the exemption of Coal Mines Nationalization Act 1973 and the Mines Mineral Development Regulation Act 1957 during the meeting held on January 30 this year in New Delhi between the officials of Union Ministry of Coal and Senior Meghalaya Government Officials show the lack of interest by the Centre on coal related issues.
The Centre failed to honour the issues raised through the official resolutions of the Meghalaya Assembly on September 24, 2015 and another in 2016, requesting the Centre to exempt Meghalaya from Coal Legislation under the provisions of para 12A (b) of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India, which vaguely reflects the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement 17 August 1948, Kharshiing said.
“It is ironic that certain people are making flying visits to Shillong, and are uttering unverified and baseless allegations and comments that the State Government has not done anything.
However, it is amply clear from the official minutes of the meeting that the entire matter is before the Government of India”, Kharshiing said.
He said that those who want to comment on NGT, Mining Policy and the coal issues should do some research or else they will be exposed as ignorant.
According to Kharshiing, the delay by the Central Government to exempt Meghalaya from the Coal Mines Nationalisation Act 1973 and the Mines Mineral Development Regulation Act 1957, in the interest of the people and their rights is a violation of human rights, particularly when such a resolution was adopted in the Assembly.
Kharshiing asked all political parties not to indulge in false and misleading statements on the rights of people over land and mineral resources, especially when the minutes of the meeting held in New Delhi expose the lack of interest by the Centre in resolving the core political treaty of the Khasi States.
