SHILLONG: The National People’s Party ( NPP) has slammed the Congress for not coming out with any comprehensive policy for coal mining in Meghalaya despite being in power for most of the time since the inception of the state.
Talking to media persons here on Monday, NPP State president, WR Kharlukhi said that Congress ruled the state for almost nine years on the trot and most of the time they were in power since the inception of the state but they never brought any policy over the issue of coal mining.
“ They ( Congress) is only trying to throw the blame on us by presenting themselves as angels,” he said while adding that the party is looking forward that the NPP led MDA Government would soon bring out a policy for regulating coal mining in the state.
Supporting the idea of instituting an independent inquiry into the recent attack on CSWO president, Agnes Kharshiing , the NPP presiden said that the National Green Tribunal basically wanted to protect environment while carrying out coal mining in the state.
Lamenting that the state is losing a revenue of Rs 700-800 crore per year due to the ban on coal, he said that there was a need to find a way where coal mining could be done and even the environment could be protected at the same time.
He also suggested journalists to conduct a deeper investigation into the entire matter of illegal coal mining in the state.
The issue of illegal coal mining and its transportation has rocked the state after CSWO president, Agnes Kharshiing along with her colleague was brutally assaulted in East Jaintia Hills while she was there to investigate into illegal coal mining taking place in the state.
Kharshiing was attacked a day after five trucks carrying illegal coal had been seized in Shillong.
