Shillong, May 04: Opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) today said that the proposal of the Congress led state government to engage its own corporation to carry out mining activity will pave way for uranium mining in the state.
“This (proposal) will not only change the land tenure system but will also pave way for uranium mining in the state,” UDP vice president Allantry F Dkhar said here.
He was reacting to the announcement made by the chief minister Mukul Sangma on the proposal that the Meghalaya Minerals Development Corporation Ltd (MMDC) would be allowed to carrying out coal mining on behalf of the people.
According to the government, the proposal was as per section 11 A (3)(a) of the Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act 1957, which can be seen as an option to restore coal mining following the NGT ban imposed since 2014.
As per a presentation, the government had stated that the MMDC will act as a facilitator cum miner for the land/mine owners and individual mine owners have to willingly approach MMDC Ltd for taking up mining of coal.
Dkhar however said if the land or mine owners agrees to such proposal, it will subjugate the tribal land rights.
“It appears that the state government is in hurry to come up with such proposal at the cost of rights of the people of the state,” he said.
He said that the state government should not push this through as land is something which is dear to the people of the state.
“Therefore taking away their rights directly or indirectly will be of great harm,” the UDP leader added.
Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement Jaintia Hills Unit also accused congress government for making people of state fool in the name of MMDC ” why Vincent.H. Pala remain silent over the statement of Mukul Sangma ” said Shaniahlang suchen,President HANM JHU.
Also added ” people should not fall prey to the the government policy as the policy also doesn’t suit with the sixth schedule” and urges the people as well as the mine owner to be alert with the policy offered by the State Government as it can harm the vast .
