Nagaland Konyak Union to ban coal mining for unsafe method

Kohima: The Konyak Union (KU) will enforce a ban on coalmine extraction in Mon district till a systematic and safe method of extraction is practiced by the Department of Geology and Mining of the Government of Nagaland and the ban will come into effect from October 2014.
According to a press release issued by KU President S. Manlip Konyak and General Secretary Y. Hosea Konyak, the ban would be enforced with effect from October 2014 and the same would be intimated to the Geology & Mining Department and the district administration for co-operation and implementation.
The decision was taken at a KU advisory board meeting held on Sunday in Mon. The meeting thoroughly discussed and deliberated on issues pertaining to illegal coal mining under Mon district.
The KU informed that since 2008 and 2009, the Geology and Mining Department had been issuing random coal-mining licenses to many firms and individuals like TCP (Tiru Coalmine Project) & NCP (Nagaland Coalmine Project) for extraction of coal from Mon district like Tiru, Naganimora and Tizit.  The KU said that none of the coalmine contractors/firms had re-filled the excavated area as agreed in the MoU and now the entire areas posed danger to all living beings including villagers.
The union urged the Geology & Mining Department not to renew or issue any more coalmine license under Mon district, till such safety measures were introduce. (UNI)