TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee lashed out at Sangma at a rally on Friday. (Twitter/File)
Coal mining has been a significant issue in Meghalaya ever since the NGT banned it in 2014. In 2019, the SC lifted the ban saying that local tribals are the owners of their land and minerals. SC asked to implement scientific mining
As illegal coal mining continues despite promises to end it, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma is now under fire from all opposition parties ahead of elections.
Accusing Sangma of the National People’s Party (NPP) of failing to check coal mining, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee said at a rally on Friday that “money is going into the pockets of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)”. Was a leader in Guwahati and Delhi.
There have been no raids by the Enforcement Directorate-Central Bureau of Investigation in Meghalaya. Banned by Hon’ble Court. Yet rat-holes and illegal mining continue. To whom is this money going? It’s your money. But this money is going into the pockets of politicians and BJP leaders in Guwahati and Delhi.
Coal mining has been a significant and contentious issue in Meghalaya ever since the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned it in 2014. In 2019, the Supreme Court lifted the ban saying that local tribals are the owners of their land and minerals. The apex court asked to implement scientific mining. In March 2022, standard operating procedures for mining were drawn up by the central and state governments and 17 miners applied for licences.
Sangma had earlier said: “In the recent meeting organized by the Government of India, the Ministry of Coal has finally given us in writing where the geological reports submitted by the four miners have been approved. The four applicants approved by the Government of India will submit their mining plans as per the criteria set by both the Central and State Governments. We are hopeful that four miners will be licensed soon.”
vulnerable
Illegal rat-hole mining has claimed many lives in the state so far.
On December 13, 2018, 15 miners died when an illegal “rat-hole” mine – narrow tunnels dug deep into the ground to find coal – was flooded by water from the nearby Litein River in Ksan. In the wake of the accident, the NGT imposed a fine of Rs 100 crore on the state for illegal coal mining.
On January 21, 2021, Six miners died after falling 170 feet in a coal mine at Sorkari Dinshanlalu village near Rimbai, in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district.
action on the ground
Recently lifting the ban on mining, the Meghalaya High Court said that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) could have a more aggressive role in controlling and monitoring illegal mining and transportation of coal in the hill state.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee directed Justice (retd) BK Katkey to work out the modalities of the control. The Meghalaya High Court had asked the government to indicate the number of Central Armed Police Forces personnel required for effective monitoring and investigation of illegal mining and transportation of coal in the state.
The order had said, “The State, which has so far been ineffective in enforcing the ban or checking illegal transport, is further given a lesser role in monitoring and the CRPF may have a more aggressive role in this regard.” Companies of personnel required (CAPF) to effectively monitor and check unscientific mining of state coal, including rat-hole mining, and recently to stop the transportation of illegally mined coal will indicate the ideal number of.
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