TURA/SHILLONG: The coal mining issue remains at the centre stage as the state goes to Lok Sabha elections on April 11 with the NPP blaming the erstwhile Congress government in the state for the travails of the people post the ban on coal mining in the state and the Congress ridiculing promises made by both the BJP and NPP to have the ban lifted.
Chief Minister and National President of NPP Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday criticised his predecessor and Congress candidate for Tura Mukul Sangma for his lackadaisical attitude during his tenure as chief minister, which has greatly affected the people post the ban on coal mining in the state.
He said that Mukul had failed to challenge the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, which created hurdles for the people dependent on coal mining.
Conrad said that ban on coal mining has impacted people in the coal rich areas of the state, which has not only affected livelihood but has also led to financial loss for the state.
“In 2014, NGT had banned coal mining in Meghalaya. I ask Dr. Mukul Sangma as to why he failed to challenge the NGT order in Supreme Court. In 2018, when MDA came to power, the government had to start from scratch and appeal in Supreme Court. We have engaged with different stakeholders to resolve the ban on coal mining and we are committed to resolve the issue for the greater interest of our people,” said Conrad Sangma, while addressing an election rally at Jadi in South Garo Hills on Tuesday evening.
“NPP challenged the order and is fighting the case in Supreme Court,” he added, while stating that in 2015, when the central government sought response from the state government on exemption of Mine and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act from Meghalaya, the then government had failed to respond.
He said that Mukul had his own interest as he was engaged in monopoly of coal trade in Meghalaya and was least bothered about the interest of the people.
“In 2016, the Ministry of Coal was working on a policy to exempt Meghalaya from MMDR Act and an order was issued to this effect with final approval to be accorded by Ministry of Home Affairs, but the Mukul Sangma government failed to respond to the Ministry of Coal order and the letter was also misplaced. I would like to ask Mukul Sangma, why he failed to address the concerns of the people?” He further said that if Mukul Sangma government was sincere and was concerned about the people, the issue would have been resolved. “Now, Congress is making a video against our party (NPP) and is trying to create confusion amongst the people saying NPP has failed to resolve the issue but the fact is before the public that we are working with utmost sincerity to start mining again in Meghalaya by addressing environmental and mine safety issues,” he added.
BJP bluffing: Cong
The Congress has cautioned the people on the claims of BJP over the important issue of coal mining.
Speaking to newsmen in Shillong on Wednesday, Congress spokesperson HM Shangpliang termed the claim of BJP to lift the ban on coal mining as a bluff saying that until the NGT and the Supreme Court take a decision nobody can promise to lift the ban.
BJP candidate for the Shillong Lok Sabha seat Sanbor Shullai had recently stated that if the party was voted to power, the issue of ban on coal mining would have been addressed long time ago.
“ It is not just the BJP but even the NPP, which made such claims before the Assembly elections last year and on that basis majority of the people, who are economically dependent on coal mining , voted for them, but now after one year of the Assembly elections, the ban on coal mining still remains,” Shangpliang said.
He said that the BJP is again trumpeting the same issue to win the elections and their claims need to be watched since they cannot be relied on any longer as they speak so much about coal mining but can do nothing about it.
“One year ago, Conrad Sangma during his campaign had said the same thing and till date nothing has happened,” he said.
