SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said on Wednesday his government has brought the issue of coal ban on track in the last six months.
Talking to media persons after taking oath as the South Tura MLA, Sangma said the ban “is basically an environmental issue but later so many issues, like ownership of coal, safety of miners and the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act came up”. Also, there was a wide communication gap between the state and the Centre, he added.
Sangma was reacting to Congress leader PT Sawkmie’s statement on Tuesday that the state government was delaying the solution to the impasse.
Informing that talks to end the impasse are in an advanced stage, the chief minister made it clear that the government would not compromise on environment and safety of miners.
“But at the same time, we cannot allow mining to be stopped as it is affecting the livelihood of people,” he said.
Stating that it is a big challenge for the state government to bring all ministries on board on the issue, Sangma said the Coal Nationalisation Policy has been repealed “but MMDR Act is still applicable and we have sought exemptions from certain provisions of the act”.
The Meghalaya Assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution to urge the Centre to invoke Para 12 A (b) of the Sixth Schedule through a presidential notification to exempt Meghalaya from the central laws related to mining.
The NGT had on April 17, 2014, asked the state government to immediately stop illegal rat-hole coal mining.
The ban was based on a petition by the All Dimasa Students’ Union and the Dima Hasao District Committee, alleging that coal mining in the state has turned the water of the Kopili river acidic.
