SHILLONG: The People’s Democratic Front (PDF) released the party’s poll manifesto on Friday underlining issues related administration, economic and social development.
Addressing gathering on the occasion at the party office, PDF chairman, PN Syiem said that the party would seek to resolve boundary dispute, matters on education, health, youth policy, public health and social welfare.
He added that the party would also improve tourism in the state, frame mining policy, to help farmers and to improve agriculture and farming, construction of roads and bridges under public works, improve and find out ways and means to expand the power sector, create employment avenues.
The party also released the official election song “jingshai mombati”.
PN Syiem further said that mining policy should be framed as per the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution instead of following the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR) by bringing in the MMDC method as pointed by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma.
According to him, the Chief Minister Mukul Sangma should not have brought the MMDC policy stating that all the mine owners should sign an MoU with the state government agency, MMDC which will then lease their property to mining companies which Syiem said, “Is very wrong.”
He said, “Why follow the MMDR act? We should make use of the provision of the Sixth Schedule and make a policy as per the provision of the Sixth Schedule. If we need the exemption of the President, he should give the exemption.”
In this connection, Syiem observed that the state of Meghalaya can have its own mining policy as in the state of Nagaland and other states.
He added that MMDR act will create problem on the land holding system of the people of the state but Sixth Schedule will be as per the practice and tradition of the people.
“The state does not need to follow the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act (MMDR) but mining has to be as per the provision of the Sixth Schedule,” he said.
PN Syiem said that provision of the Sixth Schedule has to be followed for mining or land issues in the scheduled areas as such areas are being empowered by the provision of the Sixth Schedule.
“We need the exemption of the President so that we can make a mining policy or mining Act according to the provision of the Sixth Schedule otherwise if we follow land issue and other issue with the central act, there is no meaning of having a Sixth Schedule,” he said.