SHILLONG, May 14: Meghalaya Congress president, Vincent H. Pala has slammed the NPP-led MDA 2.0 for playing petty politics by not forwarding to the Centre the applications of many miners not supporting the government for obtaining a mining lease.
“I have learnt that the applications of 17 to 18 miners for the mining lease are lying with the government. I was surprised to learn that these miners were asked to support the government if they want their applications to be forwarded to the Centre,” he said.
He said if the state government is really committed to the resumption of coal mining in the state it should help the genuine miners who have submitted their applications.
Stating that the government needs to realize that the land belongs to the people, Pala said it is not right to keep on holding the applications of the miners.
“It is the right of each and every citizen to do any business. It is not fair on the part of the government to be biased. The government needs to change its attitude, especially with Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma himself in charge of the Mining and Geology Department,” he said.
The MPCC chief said he is not optimistic about the revival of mining as only four miners have received the mining lease from the Centre. “There are thousands of people in the state who are dependent on coal mining directly or indirectly. The economy of the state has been badly affected due to the ban on coal mining,” he said.
Pala said the celebration by the government is only a drama since it had claimed, even before the Assembly elections that these four would be getting the approval for starting coal mining in the state.
he said he would be keeping a close watch to see how mining is done with the regulations to be imposed.
According to him, mining is a highly controlled business and there are many regulations needed to be complied with.
“To get mining permission is one thing and compliance is another thing. We are aware that the regulations are changing from time to time. I think we have to see whether they will be able to do the mining according to the rules,” Pala said.
Stating that these four miners will face problems in a regulated atmosphere, he said one cannot just operate according to one’s whims.
“I hope there is a special regulation for the indigenous people with the help of the Supreme Court. I also feel that the contributions of the present judge of the High Court of Meghalaya, HS Thangkhiew needs to be acknowledged. The way he pleaded the case in the apex court helped lay the foundation,” Pala said.
The Chief Minister was felicitated recently in Nongstoin and Khliehriat by the mining lease holders for the state government’s persistent and determined efforts under his leadership towards initiating scientific mining in Meghalaya.
In April, the Union Ministry of Coal approved the mining lease for four of the 17 prospecting license applicants.
The National Green Tribunal imposed a blanket ban on coal mining and transportation of coal in Meghalaya in April 2014, dealing a massive blow to the revenue of the state.
