Withdraw NGT’s authority from the state

SHILLONG, JULY 30: Coal mine miners and others affected by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ban on rat hole coal mining in Meghalaya took to the streets demanding withdrawal of the NGT’s jurisdiction from the state of Meghalaya.

Since the NST rat-hole coal ban  in the state, for first time the miners under the Movement for Indigenous People’s Rights and Livelihood – Meghalaya (MIPRLM)- publicly protested in Shillong to underscored the need for the Meghalaya government to take up the issue with concern authority.

Incidentally, the NGT sitting is just two days away slated for August 1.

Coal miners to small time businesspeople who directly and indirectly depend on coal mining for the livelihood converged in Polo ground holding black flags and placards.

The placards reflected their anger on the NGT ban as some of them read -“Is it that the aquatic lives in the rivers more precious than human lives to the NGT,”  “We demand our rights to life,” “Environment of NGT, human being enemy,” Government of Meghalaya is an actor, NGT is director,” “No NGT in Meghalaya, its Sixth Schedule area,” and “No NGT in our land, the ban on sand and coal mining kills people as a whole.”

United Democratic Party (UDP) legislator Titus Chyne and traditional heads also took part in the silent protest march to show their solidarity against NGT ban.

The NGT protesters came from almost all the eleven districts of Meghalaya including Garo hills region. Interestingly, a disabled person from Lumshnong village in Jaintia Hills region also participated in the march carrying placard to express his support to the people affected by the coal ban.

Before the silent protest march, MIPRLM vice chairman Erwin KS Sutnga told the huge gathering, “Today is the day to show our anger and problems through this silent march that we totally disagree with the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to take away the livelihood of lakhs of people in the state.”

Sutnga said the march was on the issue of livelihood of the people which is affected because of the sudden NGT ban.  He said, “We have decided to fight till the end whether we win or lose.”

Legislator Titus Chyne informed that this is the first phase of the  protest as it will be intensified if the need arise. He said, “It is better to get arrested than to die of starvation or to indulge in criminal activities for survival.”

Chyne also urged people to put pressure on their MLAs and Autonomous District Councils leaders to come forward and demand immediate withdrawal of NGT ban.  He said, “Don’t allow them to shy away from this important issue as they should not only make their appearance during election times.”

As the protest march through the city streets it cause traffic jams but the rally ended peacefully.

Sutnga told reporters that they have decided to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon and demand withdrawal of the NGT’s jurisdiction from Meghalaya. He also said that they will urged the centre and state to workout relief to  the people who have been severely affected by the ban in the state.

Sutnga said, “A time has come for the centre and state government to understand the plight of the people as the NGT Act was passed in 2010 without taking the Meghalaya government and the autonomous district councils into consideration.”

Sutnga claimed that the NGT Act was designed only for plain areas and not for hilly region like Meghalaya. He said they will also meet the union finance minister and inform him about the huge revenue loss to the state government and the people. Beside the team will also meet union power department as they said that Meghalaya need to generate electricity from coal to meet its power requirement.

Sutnga, however, also said that they are also concern about the environment  and would also asked the centre to conduct a proper plan and assessment on the ground realities.

The team will underscored the need for having proper environmental plans by the state government and district councils not only in coal mining areas but in urban areas as well.

Sutnga also said that there is also a need to give a clarion call on how to revive the responsibility to protect and preserve the forest and rivers.- By Our Reporter