The state mining department recently released the draft mining policy, seeking suggestions from the people.
The meeting expressed concern over the current draft mining policy, which, according to the miners, went against the interests of the people.
The spokesperson for the forum, Honsen Lyngdoh, told reporters that the forum would meet the minister and ask him to take all the stakeholders into confidence while adopting the policy.
The doubts being raised by various organisations are that the state government was trying to nationalise the coal mines, which will go against Meghalaya’s land tenure system. At present, Meghalaya is exempted from the purview of the Coal Mines Nationalisation Act, 1973 as the land is owned by individuals and not by the government.
“We want more involvement of all the stakeholders and the government should give time to express our views,” Lyngdoh said.
Earlier, the East Jaintia Coal Miners and Owners Association urged the government to keep in abeyance its plan to implement the proposed mining policy.
The association, a major organisation of mine owners and miners in the Jaintia Hills, also asked the government to constitute a joint advisory committee to draft a useful mining policy.
The NCP, in a meeting held on Thursday, had opposed the proposed mining policy of the government.
NCP leader P.A. Sangma said though the NCP was not against scientific mining, the role, privileges and involvement of the tribals should not be overlooked.
According to Sangma, any policies, which deny the rights of the tribals, could not be acceptable.
He also suggested the need to set up mining schools and colleges in every district of the state.