SHILLONG: The State Coordination Committee of Coal Owners, Miners and Dealers Forum has criticised the State Government for delaying the process of laying down mining rules and environment-friendly policies.
The forum said the National Green Tribunal, after banning coal mining in 2014, had asked the Government to put in place mining regulations for resuming work.
“Three years have passed and the State Government is yet to come out with a proper policy suitable not just to the stakeholders but also to preserve the environment.
Every time the matter is listed before the NGT, the State Government blatantly buys time stating one reason or the other and the same trend followed even on the last date of hearing on July 27,” said chairman Sonny L Khyriem in a statement issued by the Forum. The State’s dilly-dally prompted the tribunal to direct the Government to file composite affidavit within 10 days so as to ascertain how the Government would handle coal mining issue in case fresh mining is further allowed.
“The Government is either incapable or have no will power to address the issue of coal mining in the State,” Khyriem said.
