Meghalaya MP Accuses NGT of Double Standards Over Coal Ban, Vows to Raise Issue in Parliament

Kharlukhi highlighted that the sudden and sweeping ban on coal mining has gravely impacted the livelihoods of thousands in the state.

Meghalaya Rajya Sabha MP WR Kharlukhi has criticised the National Green Tribunal (NGT), accusing it of practising “double standards” in its enforcement of environmental laws, particularly with regard to the ban on coal mining in Meghalaya. Kharlukhi today expressed his intention to raise the issue during Zero Hour in Parliament, arguing that while the NGT comes down heavily on small-scale miners in his state, it has remained largely silent on the devastating pollution caused by large industrial units across India.

“The NGT is very much against illegal coal mining in Meghalaya. They’re going after our people, and it’s affecting those small coal miners. What shocked me is the report in a national newspaper that millions of people are dying due to pollution caused by big industrialists. What has the NGT done about that?”

Coal Ban Disproportionately Affects Meghalaya’s Poor

Kharlukhi highlighted that the sudden and sweeping ban on coal mining has gravely impacted the livelihoods of thousands in the state who have depended on coal for decades. “For over forty years, coal was the lifeline of our people. This ban didn’t just take away their work, it cut into the revenue of the state and that of the District Council,” he said.

Acknowledging the environmental concerns raised by illegal rat-hole mining, Kharlukhi said, “Yes, rat-hole mining has harmed the environment but what about the human lives? Isn’t human life just as important as the environment?”

According to him, the real problem lies not in the act of mining itself but in the unregulated and careless dumping of extracted coal. “It is the dumping of coal, not mining that pollutes rivers. There are no proper depots or cemented platforms. When it rains, the coal waste seeps into the rivers,” he said.

Kharlukhi proposed a more balanced approach involving scientific handling and containment of coal. Drawing a parallel with cement industries, he suggested building designated depots where coal could be stored and transported in an environmentally sound manner.

“They should construct cemented buildings where coal can be stored. Trucks should load coal from these depots, not from open roadside heaps. This would prevent runoff during rains, which is the real cause of river pollution,” he said.

He made it clear that he does not support unregulated mining, but believes banning an entire industry without alternatives is unjust. “Make a proper study,” he urged. “Regulate it. Control the dumping. But don’t destroy the only means of livelihood for an entire region.”

Kharlukhi also drew attention to the growing social consequences of the coal ban, specifically citing drug-related arrests in Khliehriat, a coal-rich area in East Jaintia Hills.

“What I fear is that if people, especially the youth, have no livelihood, they may fall into the trap of drugs. This is what’s already starting to happen. And if this spreads, it could impact the entire Northeast,” he warned.

Linking economic survival with social stability, the MP appealed for a holistic review of the coal ban’s implications on the region. “I come from Jaintia Hills, a mining district. I speak for my people. They deserve policies that are just and sustainable.”

In a strongly worded statement, Kharlukhi accused the NGT of bias, claiming that while the tribunal acts swiftly against Meghalaya’s coal miners, it turns a blind eye to environmental violations by heavy industries across urban India.

“Why has the NGT not taken the same strict action against the big industrialists who are killing millions with toxic emissions? Why is there no ban on them?” he questioned.

He further stated, “This is a clear double standard. It’s not just about the environment—it’s about whose lives are considered worth saving.”

Citing The Hindu report again, he emphasised that industrial pollution is a far greater and more widespread killer, especially in metro cities, and yet the focus remains on a marginalised group in a far-flung state.

Kharlukhi further stated, “Environmental protection is important, but so is human survival. We cannot sacrifice one for the other. Let us find a science-based solution that safeguards our rivers and our livelihoods. Coal must remain a part of that solution.”

He reiterated that he would raise the matter in the current Parliament session, pushing for a broader, more equitable environmental policy that does not punish the poor while sparing the powerful.

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