BJP to resolve ban on coal mining within 180 days

SHILLONG, FEB 15: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has vowed to resolve the ban on coal mining imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for the past nearly four years within 180 days, if it is voted to power in Meghalaya.

While keeping silent on its stand with regards to uranium mining, the party however said that it seeks to promote mining of minerals resources with a sense of responsibility towards the protection of the environment and regeneration of forests.

“The BJP will give a mineral rich state of Meghalaya a new boost by putting back on track the coal mining issue in 180 days of forming the government,” the party said in its 17-page vision document released by the Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman here on Thursday.

Asked, BJP national spokesman Nalin Kohli said that the party would approach the issue in a manner that is correct and seeing what is legally possible within the policy and within the rules existing in the state and national so that people’s livelihood is not challenged for such a long period of time.

Slamming the failure of the present Congress-led state government, he said the government instead of complying with the directions of the NGT is proposing that the Meghalaya Mineral Development Corporation Limited (MMDC) to carry out mining activity in the state.

The vision document also pledged to resolve the age-old boundary dispute with neighboring Assam by ensuring that the state has proper demarcation and undisputed boundaries.

It said that it would “capitalize on the unique alignment of a BJP government at the centre, BJP governments in all the neighboring states and a BJP government in Meghalaya to resolve the long pending boundary issues.”

With the growing demand for implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state, the BJP however assured that checking influx of foreign migrants through strong policy decisions.

Stating that peace and security is a pre-requisite for development, the party said that it would curb insurgency through development and creation of jobs besides promising to ensure safety and security of women and children against sexual abuse and make Meghalaya a crime free state.

Promising jobs opportunity to every youth who are the real strength of the state, the BJP said it will create an environment for big investors to invest in the state and create jobs in large number. In a way every youth is assured of a job opportunity besides implementing a comprehensive labour law.

Noting that the tourism industry is booming, the BJP said it will create at least 2 lakh employments for the youths in the industry alone.

The document of the party also promised free sanitary napkins for all women from BLP households and pensions to daily wage labourers besides a move to the 7th pay commission to make jobs more lucrative.

Stating that the state can be a centre of international standard healthcare in the region, the document of the party said it will establish a specialised cancer treatment hospital here and upgrade all health institutes besides making available the Rs 5 lakh health insurance to every citizen.

Taking advantage of the ruling Congress to provide pukka roads to every village and 24/7 electricity to every households, the BJP vision document assured housing for all with pukka roofs, setting up of more government schools with trained teachers and setting up of agricultural markets.

The vision document also promised that the BJP government, if elected, will resolve the inter-state borders taking advantage of the BJP governments at the Centre and in Assam, what the Congress has failed when it was in power at all levels.

Election to the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly would be held on February 27. The BJP is contesting in 47 seats and has no pre-poll alliance with any parties.

By Our Reporter