MAA withdraws PIL against state and Centre

Shillong, Aug 2 (UNI) The Meghalaya Adventurers Association (MAA) has decided to withdraw the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the state and central government after its meeting with Chief Minister JD Rymbai on Monday.

''We have decided in principle to withdraw the PIL after the government assured us of preserving the caves in the state,'' said MAA General Secretary Brian Daly Kharpran.

Recently, state Chief Minister JD Rymbai requested the MAA to withdraw the litigation against the government and assured them of constituting a sub-committee to look into issues related to the caves system and other ancient monuments in Meghalaya.

In the wake of the Supreme Court directing the state government to provide a status report on the ecological imbalance, the government also decided to formulate a comprehensive policy on mining and allied industries and introduce appropriate legislation to regulate indiscriminate mining of limestone and coal.

Talking to reporters, Mr Dally said the main objective of the organisation and the PIL was to preserve the cave systems in the state from uncontrolled mining.

''The government agreed to address all our grievances and agreed to form a committee that would give its report on the preservation of prehistoric cave systems,'' Mr Dally stated.

Meanwhile, the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) and Jaintia Hills District Committee have voiced its strong opposition against the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by MAA.

The KHNAM unit, in a meeting held on Monday in Jowai, said that the closure of mining activities in the district would affect the livelihood of local people concerned with coal and limestone mining activities.

UNI RRK SP RS1708