Refrain from mud-slinging

SHILLONG, NOV 27: The State Co-ordination Committee of Coal Owners, Miners & Dealers Forum (SCCCOMDF) today urged the Hima Nongstoin Land Owner, Coal Traders and Producer Association (HNLOCTPA) to refrain from mud-slinging over the issue of coal mining in the state.

“We appeal to the HNLOCTPA that mud-slinging never evolve solution,” SCCCOMDF chairman Sonny Khyriem said in a statement issued here while reacting to the recent allegations made by the HNLOCTPA.

He said that the Forum was shocked with dismayed of contention that the Forum was taking unjustified acclaimed from the recent Apex Court order passed on the 21-11-2017 to allow transportation of the extracted coal for a period of four months in the State, that too alleged by the organisation who are party for the same issue in the Apex Court.

The Forum by no means ever claimed that the relief granted to allow transportation of the extracted coal was their sole issue. As impleading party in the said matter, we simply acknowledged the Apex Court for the let-up and thanked the counsels who participated in the last hearing of appeal, he said.

He said that the Forum certainly not or ever put-in effort to assert glory and fame or anticipate appreciation or to wrongfully accuse others as the sole agenda is to serve the interest of coal miners in the State adding “We have done so since 2014 when the ban on coal mining was imposed by the National Green Tribunal, the consequences of the ban on coal mining has not only affected people involved in the coal business sector but the State Economy too has reduce speed severely.”

He said that the Supreme Court passed the order to allow transportation on the Forum application vide IA No. 43720 of 2017 filed on May 25, 2017 last with a prayer of appealing the extension of time for transportation.

“Nalin Kohli, a renowned Supreme Court Lawyer who led the Forum’s team of counsels was uncalled for dragged in of not being present on the day of the aforementioned matter in the Apex Court was purely the intent to malign his reputation and the HNLOCTPA Shillong based lawyers too was not present in person during the aforesaid hearing but we do not wish to add political gimmicks to their abstention,” Khyriem said.

By Our Reporter