SHILLONG, AUG 29: Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said the state government will pressurize the union government on the need to invoke Para 12 (A) (b) of the Sixth Schedule, through a presidential notification to ensure that central laws related to mining is repealed from Meghalaya.
“We will continue to urge the Government of India to invoke Para 12 (A) (b) of the Sixth Schedule through a Presidential notification as it is the only way out,” Sangma said.
According to Sangma many central laws are in conflict with the state’s customary rights.
Addressing a meeting with all the stakeholders affected by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ban on rat-hole coal mining on Friday in the city, Sangma said the state government has so far failed to take recourse to the particular Para of the Sixth Schedule of the Indian constitution.
Sangma said now is the time to take recourse of the Para, and added, “The time has come to put in place mechanisms to protect the interests of the people as well as the environment.”
Friday meeting was attended by cabinet ministers, legislators, chief executive members (CEM) and representatives of the three autonomous district councils – Khasi, Jaintia and Garo besides coal miners associations from across the state.
During the meeting several stakeholders cited their difficulties because of the ban on rat hole coal mining by the NGT .
Sangma also informed that the state government has directed the deputy commissioners of the various districts to make an assessment of the loss of livelihoods and come up with measures to address the problem.
“The ban on coal mining by the NGT has a negative ramification on the state,” Sangma said adding “The state get major revenue from coal. We understand where the state stands today.”
Speakers in the meeting not only urged the state government to step in and resolve the problem but also provide relief packages to the affected people besides giving various suggestions.
GHADC CEM Aphonse A Sangma said, “Ninety percent of the shops in the region have been closed down due to NGT ban.”
JHADC CEM Thombor Shiwat said, “Since the state and the district council are totally depending on the revenue generated from coal, the ban on mining will to a great extent affect the functioning of the district council.”
Earlier, deputy chief minister, Rowell Lyngdoh who also expressed concern over the ban, said that there should be cooperation between the stakeholders and the state government to solve the matter.
Lyngdoh also said that there are two sides to the issue one is the loss of livelihood of those involved in coal mining and the other is the adverse impact on the environment due to coal mining. He said that environmentalists should also have been invited in the meeting to hear their point of view.
Meanwhile, HSPDP legislator from Mawshynrut pleaded that rat hole mining should be allowed to continue.
Sonny L Khyriem a stakeholder said that coal mining and the environment should exist. “All these years the state government took only royalty never asked us to conserve the environment,” Khyriem said, adding “We also took it lightly.”
Recently, a day ban was imposed by the coal businessmen, the state government under the leadership of Dr. Mukul Sangma warned the govt employees not to absent from their work. This same leader is pleading the central govt. along with those businessmen to repeal central laws related to mining from Meghalaya. What a govt we have in Meghalaya who wants to destroy the environment just to fill the pockets of a few! The government should have devised plans to preserve the environment during this ban period by the NGT instead of wasting time. I personally prefer the government taking the begging bowl to Delhi.
I fail to understand The Immunity N Impunity Of The Sixth Schedule Ruled State Like Meghalaya To Destroy Environment Through Rat Hole mining. Surely, under Articles Of Protection Of Environment, child labour, illegal Immigration, more Tribunals To Reprimand SOME Is Urgent Need Of d Hour