NGT ordered ban on coal mining in Meghalaya but fails to take action on pollution in Delhi: Kharlukhi

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 1, 2023

Rajya Sabha MP and NPP state president WR Kharlukhi on Friday said he was very hurt to see his own people suffering due to the ban on coal mining in Meghalaya.

Speaking to reporters, Kharlukhi said, “This is not the stand of the government but my stand…Coal for us people coming from Jaintia Hills is our livelihood. It is enshrined as a fundamental right and denying coal mining for my people from my district which we have been practicing for nearly four decades is like denying food for our people. I am always for coal mining. You start whatever coal mining but my people should not starve.”

Kharlukhi informed that he tried to raise the issue in the parliament but he could not get a chance despite the issue being listed two times.

He also questioned the failure of NGT to take action on pollution in Delhi. 

He said, “We have pollution in Delhi. NGT is in Delhi. I have raised a question: it was not only disease related, it was death related. I am not talking about fish or animals, I am talking about human beings why nothing was done. Something should be done there also and NGT is in Delhi.”

“I was trying to show that if you have done here (coal ban in Meghalaya) why not do it there (Delhi) also. It doesn’t mean that we are far away, you can do whatever you like with us,” he added.

On the direction to start scientific mining of coal, the Rajya Sabha MP said coal has to be mined and mining should not stop.

“For 40 years we have been doing this and one fine day you stopped us. Central government should offer us this is how much your people are losing take this money that also was not offered to us. You just stop just because we are far away in the NE.  It should not be like that,” he said.