By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, AUG 1: The State Co-ordination Committee of Coal Owners, Miners & Dealers Forum (SCCCOMDF) has slammed the Congress-led state government’s failure to address the issue pertaining to the ban on coal mining in the state.
In a statement issued here on Tuesday, Forum’s chairman Sonny Khyriem said that the Government is either in-capable or have no will power to address the issue of coal mining in the state.
“In either of the two, it has proven a complete failure in the economic empowerment to the people, particularly to those who solely depend on the coal mining activities for their survival,” he said.
According to him, three years have passed and the state government is yet to come out with a proper policy suitable not just to the stake holders but also to preserve the environment.
The National Green Tribunal (BGT) had banned unscientific coal mining in Meghalaya on April 17, 2014.
The green tribunal had made it clear that mining can be allowed if the state government comes out with proper mechanism such as Mining Rules and Regulations or the Environmental friendly Policies.
Khyriem however said every time the matter is listed before the NGT, the state government blatantly always buy times stating one reason or the other.
“The same trend followed even on the last date of hearing held on July 27, which prompted the NGT to direct the government to file composite affidavit within 10 days, so as to ascertain how the government would handle coal mining issue in case fresh mining is further allowed,” he added.
Meanwhile, the chairman said that the Forum would continue to leave no stone unturned in pursuing the matter to its logical conclusion.
“We will ensure that the coal mining is re open and that both the environment are protected and coal mining survive, thereby they will co-exist, and that everyone benefits as a long lasting way out,” Khyriem added.
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