SHILLONG: Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Vincent H. Pala has launched a sharp attack on the ruling alliance of the National People’s Party (NPP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of betraying the people over unfulfilled promises on coal mining.
Reacting to the recent tragic mining accident in Thangsko in East Jaintia Hills, Pala alleged that repeated disasters in the state’s coal belts were the direct outcome of the government’s failure to implement “scientific mining” as promised during elections.
He accused the Chief Minister and the BJP of using the coal issue as a political tool to influence voters, without any serious intent to resolve the long-standing crisis.
Pala recalled that the BJP’s election manifesto had promised to legalise coal mining within 180 days. He also pointed out that the Chief Minister, who holds the mining portfolio, had campaigned in areas such as Mandihati and Nongstoin, assuring voters that mining activities would resume within six months.
“It has been years, not months. This is a total failure of both the BJP and the NPP. They promised a restart in six months to a year, but today those words mean nothing. It was a hollow election stunt,” Pala said.
While acknowledging that the Thangsko incident is currently under scrutiny by the Meghalaya High Court through a suo motu case, Pala said the tragedy must be viewed in its political context.
He argued that although accidents can occur anywhere, the illegal nature of mining in the region—caused by the government’s delay in providing a clear legal framework—is the real crisis.
According to him, such incidents are reported more frequently in Jaintia Hills than in Khasi or Garo Hills, reflecting widespread confusion and uncertainty among local miners.
Pala highlighted that many people had invested their life savings in mining operations based on government assurances.
“People invested their hard-earned money believing the government’s promises. Today, they are trapped in debt and desperation because they don’t know when, or if, legal mining will ever begin,” he said.
He further claimed that the so-called “scientific mining” leases showcased by the government exist only on paper and have failed to translate into real opportunities on the ground.
The MPCC chief concluded that by failing to operationalise legal mining, the NPP-BJP alliance has pushed poor and marginalised workers into unsafe and unregulated pits.
“This betrayal has cost people both their lives and their livelihoods,” he asserted.
