Staff Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb. 06: The Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of the Hill State People’s Democratic Party will be holding public consultations on the draft mining policy (DMP) in West Khasi Hills and Jaintia Hills districts on February 8 and 9 respectively.
In West Khasi Hills, the consultation will be held at Nongstoin at 11 am and in Jaintia Hills at Wapung at 11 am.
The PAC has requested people from different walks of life including civil society organisations, students, youth and women’s’ organisations, traditional heads, land and mine owners, mining employees, daily wage earners and those desiring to give suggestions on the DMP to attend the public consultations.
The HSPDP recently constituted a sub-committee comprised of HSPDP PAC chairman, Rev PBM Basaiawmoit and Finella Lyngdoh Nonglait.
Welcoming the decision of the state government to have a mining policy in the state, the HSPDP stated that the DMP could be improved upon by taking into account the livelihood and protection of small and marginal mine owners, the environment and the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of the India.
The two-member sub-committee will study and make recommendations and hold consultations with stake holders and concerned traditional heads, organisations and individuals.