SHILLONG, MAR 22: The NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government has proposed to bring an official resolution urging the Centre’s intervention for lifting the ban on coal mining imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for the past four years.
“If need be one more official resolution will be brought during this current session where both sides of the house will also be responsible jointly to knock the door of the Centre for lifting of coal ban in our state,” senior cabinet minister Prestone Tynsong told the Assembly.
Concern over the ongoing ban of coal mining which has affected the economy of the state and livelihood of thousands of people was raised by opposition members during the question hour here on Thursday.
He informed that the previous government had also passed an official resolution urging the Centre to invoke Para 12 A (b) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India through a presidential notification to exempt the state from the provisions of central laws.
Tynsong, who was also a minister in the last government, recalled that a decision was also taken then that once the resolution is passed, the leader of the House will take a delegation to the Centre on this regard which unfortunately did not happen.
Stating that the government had also taken initiatives to plead before the NGT for lifting this bann as it leads to heavy loss of revenue to the state, he said on taking up the matter with the Ministry of Coal, a committee led by Union Cabinet secretary was constituted.
The senior cabinet minister heading the PWD department further informed that one more committee was also constituted which is being headed by the Secretary of Environment Forest and Climate Change Ministry where the state’s chief secretary was also a member.
“The recommendation made by this committee was that no mining should be allowed without obtaining prior environmental clearances under the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification 2016.
It has also recommended the state government to carry out a pilot study of a cluster of rathole mines in Jaintia Hills in the state taking them on a watershed basis for treatment and ecological restoration. In the background of the findings, to use the learning from the pilot project for preparing comprehensive ecological restoration plan for the entire mine area,” he said.
Tynsong informed that the government is however yet to implement the recommendation of the Committee headed by Secretary of Environment Forest and Climate Change to which Independent MLA from Mawphlang SK Sunn questioned as to how will the government prepares the guidelines for taking up mining activity in the state.
On this, the minister informed that the guidelines have been framed and submitted by the state government to the Ministry of Coal and further instruction is awaited. “They (ministry) is yet to communicate to the state government (on this regard) till today,” he added.
Meanwhile, Tynsong assured the House that the state government will leave no stone unturned by taking it up with the Centre for ensuring the ban is lifted at the earliest.
By Our Reporter
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