SHILLONG, JUNE 23: Shillong Lok Sabha Congress MP Vincent H Pala sought the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi into the need to come up with a “rehabilitation package” for the people who have been affected by the National Green Tribunal (NGT)’s order banning rat-hole mining in Meghalaya.
“The centre must immediately step in to roll out an alternative rehabilitation scheme for the owners, workers, dependents and cement factories so that they are saved from these mindless orders of the NGT,” Pala said in his letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.
Stating that it is imperative to salvage the situation, Pala said, “The Centre must also provide efficient legal assistance to the state as well as the affected parties including owners, workers and others so that the NGT is halted in its tracks from causing deep social unrest, economic despondency and increase in insurgency activities.”
On April 17, 2014, the NGT passed an interim ban on all rat-hole coal mining in Meghalaya and also froze the transportation and sale of the coal already extracted through such method.
The NGT directed the Chief Secretary and DGP of Meghalaya to file a report on strictly complying with the interim order. The interim order was to continue till the next hearing.
On June 9, 2014, when the matter was resumed by the Eastern Zone Special Circuit Branch of NGT at Shillong, it refused to vacate the interim order but passed further orders for disposing of the extracted coal.
According to the order of June 9, 2014, the royalty on the extracted coal to be disposed off would be distributed between the District Councils and the State Government to be exclusively used for land reclamation schemes, Pal informed the PM.
According to Pala, the sudden ban by the NGT has thrown out of gear the entire population, owners and workers, from their traditional occupation of rat-hole mining engaged
by them for decades.
“The ban has been imposed without providing alternative employment or economic engagement for the workers and the owners alike, who have been suddenly uprooted,” Pala said adding “The ban is therefore iniquitous and harsh.”
Pala also informed the PM that many cement plants dependent on this coal in Meghalaya and neighbouring Bangladesh have come to standstill causing economic blackout. He said, “The manner of distribution of royalty arising out of disposal of the extracted coal is deprivation of property to the coal owners to whom the extracted coal duly belongs.”
Pala also pointed out that the NGT’s ban on rat-hole mining without providing alternative to owners and other dependents of the coal business as well its order for distribution of royalty on the extracted coal between the District Councils and State Government is robbing the owners’ property without constitutional sanction.
Pala also said that a large number of migrant labourers are dependent on this business for their livelihood and stopping it suddenly has led to destitution and sale of children.- By Our Reporter
For the Owners?? Is he one of them? and should they in fact not be penalized, for having destroyed the environment, water bodies , forest etc.?? whats wrong with this MP …is he desperate for more money?? lets watch what the new PM does….
Shame on him for informing about illegally set up Cement Plants …..