SHILLONG: KHNAM has suggested a two-pronged strategy to deal with the present power crisis in the State.
Briefing reporters here on Friday, KHNAM working president Adelbert Nongrum said that while the Government should take an initiative to construct a dam at Umshing River to ensure that the water did not get diverted but flowed directly to Umiam lake another solution would be to regulate water supply to the army at Umroi from the lake.
Nongrum also said that the State Government should put pressure on various Government departments to pay the pending dues to MeECL.
KHNAM also urged the State Government to come clear on how the pending dues to NEEPCO rose to Rs 379 crore. It also demanded a CBI probe into the anomalies of the Leshka project.
Tibetan issue
KHNAM also opposed the grant of voting rights to Tibetans in Meghalaya. “The situation in the State is different from the rest of the country. Meghalaya is protected under the sixth schedule of the Constitution,” Nongrum argued.
ANVC-B
KHNAM also expressed concern over the move of the Government to set up camps for ANVC-B in West Khasi Hills.
Nongrum said that there was a fear that since the militant group was demanding a separate state, setting up of camps in areas of West Khasi Hills might eventually take those places under the aspired Garoland.
NGT ban
Nongrum said that considering that the majority of the workers in the coal mines are “foreigners from Nepal and Bangladesh”, Government’s plan to provide a package to the workers following a ban on rat-hole mining should aim at providing top priority to indigenous workers who were involved in mining activities.
