SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Coal Miners and Exporters Association, South West Khasi Hills, has opposed the recent order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banning rat hole mining in the State.
The Association during a meeting here on Thursday also decided to appeal before NGT against the order through the State Government.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, the President of Association, J C Diengngan said that the order of NGT will affect the economy of the State and those who are engaged in mining activities in the state.
At least 80 percent of the people both in West and South West Khasi Hills will be affected both directly and indirectly due to the ban, he said.
The Association also expressed surprise over the portion of the NGT order which said that only the coal mafia is benefitting from rat-hole mining.
“Who is this coal mafia? We don’t know about their presence in Meghalaya “, the Association said.
The NGT order had said that “such illegal mining of coal benefit neither Government nor the people of the country. It s only the coal mafias who are getting benefit by following this sort of illegal activities”.
