Khliehriat, June 13: The Voice of the People Party (VPP), East Jaintia Hills District, yesterday strongly criticized the state government over the coal mining issue in the Jaintia Hills and warned it not to ignore or play with the voice of the people who are demanding their right to resume coal mining in Jaintia Hills and across the state.
Speaking to the media, VPP East Jaintia Hills District President, Damewanhi L. Rymbai, said that the party is deeply concerned over the statement made by Deputy Chief Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, as reported in the media, which he described as merely an attempt to mislead the public by claiming that the government is still waiting for the mining plan being prepared by coal traders’ associations.
“The people are currently facing severe hardship, and the prolonged suspension of coal mining has greatly affected them. The demand for the resumption of coal mining gained momentum from the rally held recently, and there has also been a hunger strike. Various organizations and pressure groups have come together to urge the government to take the coal mining issue seriously,” said Rymbai.
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He further stated that from the Deputy Chief Minister’s remarks in the media, it is evident that the government has not done anything regarding the mining plan. He questioned why the government is relying on coal traders’ associations to prepare the mining plan and asked what the Department of Mining and Geology, the DMR, as well as the MLAs and MDCs, have been doing to address the hardships faced by the people due to the ban on coal mining.
He also criticized the fact that a meeting was held yesterday at a cement factory involving leaders of the JCMDA, officials of the Jaintia Cement Manufacturing Unit Limited, and two MLAs to discuss the mining plan for coal extraction. According to him, this clearly indicates that the government is depending on the cement factory to prepare the mining plan as if it were an agency or consultancy.
Rymbai emphasized that preparing a mining plan for coal extraction is not the responsibility of the public, pressure groups, or a cement factory. Rather, it is the responsibility of the government. He questioned what responsibility the government would bear if the Central Government ultimately rejects the mining plan prepared by such entities.
He further stated that the coal mining ban has not only affected the people of the Jaintia Hills but has had an impact across the entire state. Therefore, he said, it is the government’s duty to take responsibility instead of shifting the burden onto the people.
Concluding, he said that the VPP is currently waiting for the three-month period sought by the Jaintia Coal Miners and Dealers Association (JCMDA) to secure an appropriate mining policy suited to the prevailing conditions of coal mining in the Jaintia Hills. If the government fails to act seriously on the matter, the VPP will come forward and launch further action, warning that the government must not take the voice of the people lightly, he added.
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