NONGSTOIN: The Hima Nongstoin Coal Traders and Producers Association (HNCTPA) in a meeting held at Nongpyndeng, Nongstoin on Saturday last decided to boycott the NGT ban on rat-hole mining in the State.
Chairing the meeting, chairman of the (HNCTPA), Srally Rashir, said, “The Supreme Court banned the cutting of timber in 2004 after which 60% (of the people) of West Khasi Hills went bankrupt. In 2013, the Meghalaya government banned mining of sand from the rivers and now comes the NGT ban on rat-hole mining. This will make 75% of the population of the district penniless. Rat-hole mining is a traditional method of mining which has been practised for generations. If the NGT bans this, our society will be ruined.”
On a sarcastic note, Rashir also warned the farmers that in due time the government would also put a ban on farming as most of the people used pesticides and other chemicals to grow their crops.
Lyngdoh of Hima Nongstoin, Macmillan Byrsat, said the NGT’s statement that all coal traders were mafia was also baseless. He said that the coal traders worked under the terms and conditions set by the state government and also paid revenue of Rs 8000/- per truck to the authorities. The meeting resolved that the coal traders of West Khasi Hills District would unite with coal traders from across the State to oppose NGT’s ban on rat-hole mining in Meghalaya.
