Kharshiing wants Meghalaya Govt to lead all-party delegation to Centre on mining issue

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Shillong, July 1:
The Grand Council of Chiefs of Meghalaya (GCCM) has demanded from the state government to lead an all-party delegation to the Centre to seek its intervention to resolve mining issue in the state.

In its memorandum submitted to Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma and Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong on Monday, GCCM chairman John F Kharshiing appealed that this matter be resolved at the earliest through an all-party delegation to present the case of the state before the President of India (a signatory of the IOA & AA), the Prime Minister, the Speaker of Lok Sabha, leaders of all National parties of India.

He said the delegation should comprise of all 60 MLAs, 90 MDCs and 3 MPs of the state including Chiefs from the Traditional institutions of self-government (Syiemship, Lyngdohship, Sirdarship, Wahadar, Dolloiship & Nokmaship).

The demand came following the recent shutdown notice issued to numerous stone quarry owners and stone crusher operators in Meghalaya due to the absence of mining lease as per the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957.

Stating that the state government has been pursuing with the Centre to exempt exempting Meghalaya from the Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act 1973, Kharshiing said, “it is a serious matter that in a federal and diverse structure in India, the Central government appears to be not concerned and ignored an official Resolution of the Meghalaya Assembly since 2015, which constitutionally sought Presidential notification under para 12A (b) of the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India.”

“We are all in agreement that there should be no compromise in the protection and preservation of the environment and its eco system,” he said.

Kharshiing alleged that errors and contradiction in The Meghalaya Minor Minerals Concession Rules, 2016 including Form A (application for Mining Lease) is contradicting with the customary land holding system in Meghalaya especially within the territorial jurisdiction of the Federation of Khasi States.

According to him, this is also in violation of the terms of the Instrument of Accession and Annexed Agreement (IOA&AA) 17th August 1948, where the Government of India had agreed not to make law over Land ownership.

“This is a serious matter as the indigenous people should not be misled on the need to apply for “Mining Lease” in lieu of a “Mining Permit” in their own land. The wrong use of vocabulary in an Act or Rule, if not carefully examined, will create further legal and constitutional complications on the interpretation of Land Ownership in Meghalaya,” Kharshiing stated.