SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Friday said that banning coal mining is not really a solution right now.
“Solution is to ensure that whatever activities that take place must be regulated, must be safe and I think environment and safety of miners must be given priority and the regulation must be such so that the economic condition is also not effected on the people,” Conrad told reporters.
According to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, there can easily be a way forward where safe scientific and miners’ safety techniques are used and at the same time economy is not affected.
“Because I think that these kinds on incidents are going on even during the earlier governments also and so many cases were registered against so many people who are doing illegal mining and we have been working towards stopping it,” he added.
The Chief Minister said that due to the remoteness of the mine law enforcing agencies cannot always keep a tab on illegal mining. Conrad pointed out that the illegal coal mine where 15 miners are trapped is almost 45 km inside from the main town.
“It is difficult for agencies, police to keep a watch on all this. Therefore the best way forward would be to come out with this regulated safe mining procedure and allow mining to take place keeping in mind the environment and safety of the people,” the Chief Minister reiterated.
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