file photo
Shillong, July 25: The opposition Congress has demanded the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) to appeal against the ban on stone and sand quarrying.

Raising a supplementary question on the issue on the last day of the Council’s summer session on Thursday, Congress MDC from Mylliem, Ronnie V Lyngdoh said the executive committee should take steps to appeal against the ongoing ban as it has affected the livelihood activities of the people.

In his reply, deputy chief executive member Pynïaid Sing Syiem said the closure notice to all stone quarries was issued after the Minor Minerals Concession Rules, 2016 was notified by the state government on September 12, 2016.

He informed that the matter was also taken up with the deputy chief minister, Prestone Tynsong by a delegation of the KHADC led by the chief executive member, Teiñwell Dkhar on June 26.

“I am happy to inform the House that the deputy CM has assured us that the state government would soon take necessary measures to further simplify the MMC Rules,” Syiem said.

According to Syiem, the KHADC has also suggested to the state government to ensure that small time stone crushers are not affected by the rules.