MESO voice its opposition to FDI

Shillong, Oct 19: Voicing its opposition to approval for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in coal mining, the Meghalaya Environment Social Organisation (MESO) has demanded that the Meghalaya government must exclude this particular clause from the State mining policy and also regulate the rat-hole mining.

Recently the cabinet passed the mining policy where in it had approved for the FDI in mining of the coal. Deputy chief minister Bindo M Lanong-who is also holds mining portfolio- has also said that the state government could not do away with the age old rat-hole mining as it will affect small time coal mine owners in the state even as he said that policy also encourages scientific mining.

Many social organizations have voiced their opposition to the FDI clause and also the government inability to do away with the rat-hole mining

MESO is the latest to join the chorus of doing away with the FDI clause in the mining policy as it said that it will only add up to the problem of influx.

Addressing a news conference Friday, MESO president DM Dunai said that FDI would not only  encourage influx and but  will also come into conflict with intention and provisions of the Meghalaya Land Transfer Act of 1971

Dunai also demanded regulation of rat-hole mining by introduction of new technology and said, The government should not include FDI with any existing or new policies of the state especially the Mining Policy.”-By Our Reporter