TURA, JULY 18: Garo hills based coal miners on Friday held a rally to protest against the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ban on rat hole coal mining in the state and also demand that the ban should be revoked. Meghalaya.
At least 4500 people gathered at Pathargittim in Nongalbibra in South Garo hills to protest against the ban. The rally was organized by the State Coordination Committee of Coal Mine Owners and Dealers Forum (SCCCMODF).
The meeting was also attended by Congress legislator Rophul S. Marak, who represents the Rongara constituency.
Marak is the first legislator in the ruling Congress led government, who raised his voice against the ban. He said, “We have to work together to find a solution to the problems. The blame game is leading us nowhere.”
Marak said that the state government is one of the respondents to the NGT and is seeking time to ensure that the mining policy is worked out to meet the standards demanded.
Highlighting the steps taken by the coal miners and dealers forum, Ronny Kyrmen, president of SCCOMODF said, “In 1996, the Supreme Court had put a blanket ban on the cutting of timber, which was not opposed. He said this time it is coal and thundered, “We cannot sit and wait for judgment to be passed. We are going to oppose this tooth and nail”.
Kyrmen also questioned as to why a motion to discuss the NGT ban was not taken up in Meghalaya assembly, when Shillong MP Vincent Pala could raise the issue in the Parliament. Meghalaya speaker Abu Taheer Mondal had said that the motion on NGT would be sub-judice.
The next hearing of the NGT is due for August 1. Speaking at the rally, a coal miner Georgemon S Marak said, “Where are our legislators? In Khasi – Jaintia hills, all MLAs and member of district council have united to raise their dissent against the ban. Is it not the responsibility of our representatives to fight for the rights of the people?”
Marak also informed the rally, “More than 7-8 lakh people are being affected by the ban, so where are they when the people need them the most?”
Lambasting the legislators for their alleged anti-people attitude,
Marak said, “Politicians are interested in coal belt only to set up toll gates to collect illegal taxes and fatten their pockets, not for anything else. The district council is interested only to collect revenue from the coal activities but they are not interest to safeguard the rights of the people”.
Garo hills district council member Denang T Sangma admitted that there has been no discussion on the mining ban. “I am from the opposition but I am going to fight for the revoke of the ban, which has left lakhs of people without a job.”- By Our Reporter
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