SHILLONG: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) will file an appeal in the Supreme Court next week against the final judgment and order passed by the National Green
Tribunal on August 31, 2018.
Executive Member in charge of Mines and Minerals department, KHADC Latiplang Kharkongor expressed concern about the rights of tribal people who have been deeply affected by the judgment and order passed by the NGT.
In a statement issued here, he said, “I expect the state government and other autonomous district councils too challenge the same in the interest of people residing within their jurisdiction.”
He added that the rights and ownership of land both surface and below soil lies with the people in the Scheduled areas, hence minerals and other sub-soil natural wealth belong to the people.
Kharkongor asserted that the order passed by the National Green Tribunal cannot be considered to be right and KHADC challenge the order of the NGT to restore the right of the indigenous people.
The KHADC is also supporting the case filed by Lber Laloo challenging the ban on coal mining in Meghalaya.
“Intervening application in the case will be filed before the Supreme Court by next week. Separate special leave petition will be filed challenging the judgment and order passed by the NGT on August 31, 2018,” he said.
Kharkongor said in the application that the part of the order which declared the state to be the custodian with right over the already extracted coal would also be challenged.