Shillong: The Jaintia National Council is pushing for answers on a 400 crore rupee coal restoration fund. The group met with Khliehriat MLA Kyrmen Shylla on Friday to demand transparency for the Meghalaya Environment Protection and Restoration Fund. Officials built the fund to fix mining damage and help families hurt by the 2014 coal ban.
JNC president Sambormi Lyngdoh claims the money is missing its mark. An RTI request recently hit a wall when the Mining and Geology department claimed they had no records on beneficiaries. The group wants the state to run a proper survey of families in East Jaintia Hills that need help.
The rules state that 10 percent of coal transit revenue must go toward cleanup and family aid. Lyngdoh argued that the government must stop hiding the numbers. "If substantial funds are available under the MEPRF, they should reach the beneficiaries they were meant to serve," Lyngdoh said.
Shylla serves as an adviser to the department in question. He promised the delegation he would bring these grievances to the Mining and Geology Minister. The JNC remains firm on tracking the cash until the government explains where it went.
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