Will solve coal mining ban if win power in Meghalaya: BJP

The BJP on Saturday promised to find a solution to the NGT's interim ban on coal mining since April 2014 in Meghalaya, if voted to power in next year's assembly elections.

"We are making a commitment keeping in mind environmental and economic activities concerns that we will work with all stakeholders to come to a comprehensive solution and work it out with the central government to the satisfaction of the law," BJP national spokesperson Nalin Kohli told media persons here.

The National Green Tribunal had ordered an interim ban on "rat-hole" coal mining in Meghalaya from April 17, 2014, after the All Dimasa Students' Union and the Dima Hasao District Committee filed an application before the tribunal alleging that the water of the Kopili river was turning acidic due to coal mining in Jaintia Hills.

Coal mining in Meghalaya is ostensibly part of the "customary tribal rights".

"We will work in towards that and within a time span of 6 to 8 months, if voted to power in 2018," Kohli said, even as he charged the Congress-led government with not resolving the coal mining issue in the state for the last three years.

--IANS

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