'Schedule 6 protects Meghalaya from illegal mining'
ARVIND TENGSE, MADGAO | 03 May 2013 23:06 IST
Meghalaya Governor R S Mushahary
“There is no illegal mining in Meghalaya because we fall under Schedule six of the Constitution of India”, says Meghalaya Governor Ranjeet Shekhar Mushahary.
He was on his way back with his family after having spent some days in Goa, via Konkan Railway.
Mushahary told goanews.com that Goa is similar to Meghalaya in terms of football and mining.
“We also have private mines of coal, limestone and uranium. But we are protected from illegalities due to Schedule six”, he said.
Meghalaya is one of the tribal states of India, falling under Schedule six, where the states are authorised to make their own laws to protect their land from ‘outsider’ Indians.
However, compared to Goa, he said Meghalaya is lagging behind in communication and transport network.
“We have neither air nor rail connectivity but dependent fully on road transport”, said Mushahary, while terming it time-consuming.
He appeared very much thankful to writer Sudhir Kakkar, who has written about Goa.
Kakkar, settled in Goa, apparently inspired him and his family to come down to Goa.
Though he had travelled through Goa and seen its scenic beauty through the train, the Meghalaya Governor admits that coming to Goa was an inspiration thorugh writings of Sudhir Kakkar.
