Shillong , Mar 10: The Achik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM) on Tuesday sought the the intervention of chief minister, Conrad K Sangma into its 14 charter of demands which include approval of the Garo customary law.

Addressing a press conference, AHAM president Champion R Sangma told reporters that the chief minister has assured to look into the matter during a meeting held at his official residence.

He said that the delegation has urged the government to ensure that the Garo Customary Law passed by the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) in 2018 gets the approval of the Governor.

According to him, the Garo customary law seeks to protect the interest, culture and traditions of the Garo people.

In the memorandum submitted to the CM, the AHAM also demanded that coal mining in the state be resumed at the earliest and to exempt from the MMDR Act.

“It is the aspiration of the people of Garo Hills that government initiate certain steps so as to start the mining of coal in the state,” it said while demanding to know whether the government has come up with the mining plan in accordance with the ruling of the Supreme Court and the time frame required to complete all the process, so that mining of coal can be initiated legally in the state.

The AHAM also stressed on the need to streamline the functioning of the GHADC by putting in place the financial and administration rules.

Appreciating the much hyped ‘cabinet on the move’ initiated by the present MDA government, it however rued that successive governments have failed to materialize the state’s policy of development. It said Meghalaya with its statehood birthed the policy of having two assembly sessions – summer assembly session in Shillong and winter assembly session in Tura.

“The organization would like to be enlightened on your government’s stand on the issue and the present status of the matter,” the AHAM said.

The demands also include completion of the Governor guest house, establishing of Engineering college, IT college and agriculture college, setting up of food inspector office along with laboratory equipment, organic certification of all agricultural and horticulture produce, operationalizing Baljek airport and others.