Coal forum hails Pala’s effort in mines bill

SHILLONG, APR 17: Lauding the initiative taken by the Shillong Congress MP Vincent pala in inclusion of an amendment in the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015, the State Co-ordination Committee of Coal Owners, Miners and Dealers Forum (SCCCOMDF) empowering the state government to prepare its own mining plan and also monitor it for extraction of coal and other minerals.

SCCCOMDF media relation secretary Balios Swer said in a statement on Friday “We expressed gratefulness to the effort rendered by the Lok Sabha MP from Shillong Vincent H Pala who spared no time and effort in seeing that a solution is found to the hardship and difficulties faced by the people of the Meghalaya due to the NGT ban on coal mining.”

Swer said Pala pushed for inclusion of the amendment despite the fact that his party is in minority in the Lok Sabha but enjoys majority in Rajya Sabha. He said, “The MP convinced the Congress to include the amendment in the aforesaid bill making provision for empowering the state government to prepare a mining plan and monitor the plan for extraction of coal and other minerals.”

Swer said the inclusion of the amendment recognizes the right of the minority in respect of the landed property where coal and other minerals in their respective private land is duly recognized by insertion of amendment to clause 9 in the aforesaid bill which clearly laid down that while framing the rules the state government shall be guided by the provision contained in Article 244 of the Fifth & Sixth Scheduled of the constitution of India relating to administration of Scheduled areas and Tribal areas amongst others.

Swer also said that the forum urges Pala to use his ability, intelligence and hard work in fighting for the cause of the people in general and also the mining of the minerals in the private landed property of the people which are the sources of livelihood, economic and social development of the indigenous people of the state.

The forum also expressed shocked and surprise that the Movement for Indigenous People and Right to Livelihood (MIPRL) misinformed and misguided the public that the amendment clause as passed by the Rajya Sabha was defeated in the floor of the house.

The forum said this is contrary to the fact and that the said law was passed by both the houses of parliament which was given the President’s assent. Swer also appealed to the people of the state not to be mislead by statement made by MIPRL.- By Our Reporter