Dr Kharlukhi accuses NGT of “double standard”, to raise issue in parliament

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 26, 2025

Lone Rajya Sabha MP Dr WR Kharlukhi on Monday slammed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) of allegedly being “double standard” and said he would definitely raise this issue in the parliament. 

Dr Kharlukhi, who is also former state president of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), was alleging the NGT of failing to act on reports about millions of people dying due to industrial pollution related diseases but is quick to take action only against environmental pollution. 

“I am going to bring a zero hour notice in parliament. Yes, the NGT is very much against the illegal coal mining in the state, they are going after our people and it has affected those small coal miners. But what shocked me is the news that came up in The Hindu that millions of people are dying because of pollution and big industrialists, because of heavy industries, people are dying. What have the NGT done about that (when) many of the metros are affected by this? I am going to raise this in parliament (because) this is to me is a double standard,” the Rajya Sabha MP told reporters.

“Our people have been affected (largely due to NGT ban imposed in 2014 as) coal mining was their livelihood for 4 decades but all of a sudden it was banned,” he said adding not only that it affects the livelihood of thousands of people but it also has negatively impacted on the revenue of the state and the autonomous district councils (ADCs).

“What really shocked me is why they (NGT) are not doing anything on the industries, which is very clear in The Hindu that millions of people are dying due to pollution related diseases,” he added.

Asked, Dr Kharlukhi said, “You see rat hole mining what they said is that it affected the environment but pollution by heavy industries affect human beings. So, is human lives not important? I feel human lives is also important just as environment but the thing is what I am saying is that they should do a study why coal mining is affecting the rivers?” 

He continued saying that according to him, rivers are getting polluted because of haphazard dumping of coal and not really due to mining activities. 

The MP strongly emphasized the need to have a proper place to dump the coal to ensure the acidic water from coal do not find its way to the rivers.

“Therefore, we just need to stop dumping of coal everywhere. To me it is not mining but it is the dumping of coal, which is affecting the rivers…Make a study on how far it is impacting the people. I came from a mining district. I am for my people, That is why I am saying why this double standard (on the part of the NGT)?” he added further.