From Saurav Borah
ADOKGRE (NGH): Former chief minister and Lok Sabha candidate for Tura, Mukul Sangma asserted that the mining issue would be resolved once the Congress forms government.
“The mining issue will be resolved. You go through all the measures taken by our government. We had the Mining Development and Regulation Policy, 2012 during our time. The ministry of mines and ministry of coal had given consent to agree to the proposal of the state government to invoke Para 12 A (b) of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution so that Coal Mines Nationalisation Act does not apply in respect of Meghalaya,” Sangma told The Shillong Times after addressing an election rally here on Saturday afternoon.
He further said that the Cabinet has to decide and give a presidential notification. “After we form the government, we will give the presidential notification invoking Para 12 A(b) to ensure that coal mining starts in Meghalaya in conformity with all the provisions and requirements of the statutory laws,” Sangma said.
It may be mentioned here that chief minister Conrad K. Sangma had during a poll rally in South Garo Hills accused his predecessor (Mukul) of being “lackadaisical” on the coal mining ban in the state and monopolising the coal trade.
Conrad alleged that Mukul had failed to challenge the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, which created hurdles for people dependent on coal mining.
