By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 10: Leader of Opposition Mukul M. Sangma on Saturday alleged that the non-implementation of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA), 2016 reflects the state government’s malafide intent since doing so will effectively stop illegal coal mining and transportation activities.
Sangma said the previous government drafted the MRSSA, 2016 after due diligence with stakeholders but the incumbent MDA government has malafide intent to put the Act in the cold storage by defaulting after bringing an amendment which went beyond the legislative jurisdiction of the state, and the Ministry of Home Affairs ultimately returned the amendment Bill.
He recalled that the previous government had inspected the sites for proposed entry and exit points which were referred as Tourist Facilitation Centres and managed by the Tourism Department.
He said the judiciary had observed that the Facilitation Centres should not operate in the absence of proper guidelines. “Whose job is it to prepare the guidelines?” he asked.
Stating that the principle MRSSA Act withstood judicial scrutiny, Sangma reiterated that the proposed amendment by the MDA government went beyond legislative jurisdiction.
“I pity their legislative competence,” he said, adding that CCTV cameras were supposed to be installed all along national highways, state highways and habitations under the MRSSA in order to ensure safety and security of the residents of the state.
“If CCTV cameras were installed along the national highways, state highways and habitations, they could have easily checked illegal coal mining and transportation,” Sangma said.
He added that the government would not have been able to allow illegal coal mining activities had the MRSSA, 2016 been implemented. “They wanted to allow illegal coal mining and transportation, and hence, they are not allowing this Act to be implemented,” he alleged.
Accusing Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong of lying to the public, Sangma said he (Tynsong) himself was the co-author of the Act. He dared the Deputy CM to make the rules for the Act.
He also challenged the government to enact a new law if it has trust deficit in the MRSSA, 2016. He alleged that the MDA government had started discussions on bringing amendments in 2018 without even implementing the MRSSA, 2016.
