Staff Reporter
SHILLONG:
The state president of NPP and Rajya Sabha MP WR Kharlukhi has said that the ban on coal mining is a major problem for the state as revenue has fallen significantly.
Speaking to reporters on July 16 on the sidelines of a programme, he said that the state and Centre should decide on the mining policy.
He said, “Coal mining should re-start. The livelihood of our people has is at stake. People have to survive.”
He added, “Coal is a source of revenue for us. People do talk about the effects on environment which is understandable. It is eight years now and we are not doing anything. I will place a question in Delhi : the pollution in Delhi has reduced the life of a person by 10 years. Why is nothing done? Why only Meghalaya? It is not only coal mine owners who are earning but even people selling kwai, tea, etc., are able to sustain themselves.”
He said that during the height of coal mining, people were able to get education and some even moved outside; coal is also one of the sources of revenue for the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) which was about Rs 600 crore.
Asked about the huge number of illegal coal trucks seized, he said, “You cannot stop. People have to survive.”
He cited the example of the Ksan mining tragedy and said that the labourers there were seeking to earn some money.
He recalled that people, who were then mere daily wage labourers, had gone on to become big businessmen from coal mining.