Shillong, April 18: The Jaiñtia National Council (JNC) Central Executive Committee, led by President Shri Sambormi Lyngdoh, today met with Shri Wankit Pohshna, General Secretary of the Meghalaya BJP State Unit, following his invitation. This significant dialogue follows JNC’s memorandum submitted to the BJP on March 17, 2026, addressing critical coal mining issues in Jaintia Hills and across Meghalaya.
Speaking to media the JNC President said, Since the Supreme Court’s 2019 relief allowing regulated coal mining under MMDR Act norms, JNC remains deeply concerned that these provisions fundamentally mismatch Meghalaya’s traditional land tenure and small-scale practices. The April 7, 2026 public rally in Khliehriat drawing thousands of coal miners echoed a unified demand for a mining policy aligned with our unique topography, customary rights, and community-based operations.
As custodians of Jaintia voices, JNC continues advocating for coal, the lifeline of our people’s livelihoods. Today’s meeting with Shri Pohshna proved fruitful; he assured escalation to the Central Government, instilling hope for resolution.
“We candidly highlighted the Supreme Court’s mandate for MMDR compliance while noting Para 12A(b) of the Sixth Schedule empowers the President to exempt Parliamentary laws like MMDR from Scheduled Areas”. Exemption from MMDR—particularly for coal—offers the clearest path forward for small miners, as the current 100-hectare SOP excludes ancestral operators lacking vast holdings.
The Centre has demonstrated such flexibility before: abrogating Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and exempting Meghalaya from CAA provisions. With political will, exempting Meghalaya from MMDR’s coal mining constraints poses no insurmountable barrier and would restore economic justice.
JNC also address Chief Minister Shri Conrad Sangma’s recent remark that uniform central laws cannot accommodate Meghalaya’s needs lest other states demand similar treatment. This overlooks Sixth Schedule’s unique protections for our land and resources—privileges not extended nationwide. Uniformity cannot justify denying tribal realities.
JNC appreciates the Meghalaya BJP’s commitment to champion this cause—not as partisan advocacy, but as the longstanding demand of Jaintia and Meghalaya’s people. We seek inclusion in central dialogues and firmly reject efforts to dampen hope.
“If Article 370 could be revoked and CAA exempted for Meghalaya, coal mining exemption is achievable with political will,” concluded Shri Sambormi Lyngdoh, JNC CEC President.
