SHILLONG, AUG 13: The Riwar Mihngi Exporter & Importer Association (RMEIA) has asked KHADC to constitute a special committee to take up the issue of complete ban imposed by the Meghalaya High Court on extraction and transportation of limestone and other minor minerals with the state and centre governments.
“We urged the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to constitute a special committee to pursue the matter pertaining to the recent ban imposed by the High Court on extraction and transportation of limestone and other minor minerals in the state,” RMEIA president Ribanroilang Lyngdoh said in a memorandum to the KHADC Chief PN Syiem on Thursday.
According to Lyngdoh, the special committee should also include all the stakeholders including the traditional chiefs.
Referring to the order issued by the Meghalaya High Court on June 30, Lyngdoh said, “In our understanding the order has gone beyond the issue involved in the writ petition,” adding “The order actually relates to a forest gate for collection of compensatory fee from trucks transporting minerals like coal and limestone for reclamation of unclassed forest which falls under the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC).”
Lyngdoh, however, said, “The High Court without hearing the District Council and other affected parties who are engage in the business has passed the order imposing a blanket ban in the extraction and transportation of minor forest produce.”
According to Lyngdoh, the ban will have a far reaching consequence as it shall affect the livelihood of the people who are totally dependent in this business.
“Further, some of the exporters have also taken huge loan from financial institutions and also letter of credit of huge amount to transport like limestone, boulder stone to Bangladesh,” Lyngdoh informed.
Stating that the National Green Tribunal is already seized of the matter with regard to mining of coal in the state, Lyngdoh said that complete ban of extraction and transportation of other minerals by the High Court will also affect the revenue of the district councils and the state government viz forest department and directorate of mineral resources.
Lyngdoh said at present there are huge quantities of limestone, boulder stone, which are already extracted and the transportation of the same have also been stopped.
Lyngdoh argued that if transportation is not allowed, it will have a severe impact on the environment as the monsoon season has already started.- By Our Reporter
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