State Govt has its task cut out
SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Government faces a daunting task streamlining mining activities in the wake of the interim order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banning rat hole mining in Jaintia Hills.
The traditional rat hole mining was in practice for a long time in the State and the order of NGT will have far-reaching implications.
Though the State Government had framed Mining policy in 2012, it is yet to be implemented. It should have addressed the issue of rat-hole mining.
Former Deputy Chief Minister Bindo Mathew Lanong, who handled the mining portfolio said, “The State Government has come up with the mining policy which laid down the various provisions to streamline the mining of various mineral resources in the State. Many major government departments are involved in the formulation of this policy”.
He said the Government should immediately implement the mining policy for the larger interest of the people of the State.
According to Lanong, the State Government should take a call on the interim order of NGT regarding the ban on rat hole mining.
“The Government would have to examine whether rat hole or mechanized mining is safer for the environment,” Lanong said.
He also said that the Government has to take into consideration since rat hole mining is a traditional form of mining which the people of the State have been practising for the past many decades.
The former Deputy Chief Minister, however, observed that mechanised mining was safer in terms of safety of the miners who work in the mines.
“But the worrying factor is that mechanized mining had led to mass destruction of the environment. We are aware how hills and hillocks were destroyed due to mechanized mining,” Lanong said.
While admitting that the protection of the environment was the need of the hour, he said that there was a need to streamline the mining activities in the State.
Earlier, Chief Minister Chief Minister Dr. Mukul Sangma had urged coal miners in Garo Hills to adhere to the State Mining Policy of 2012.
“We need to discontinue extracting coal through the traditional method since it poses a threat to life and to the environment. We need to adopt scientific methods of mining,” Sangma had said.
The Chief Minister had also assured that the Government would implement the policy for the benefit of the people.
“We have to look beyond the traditional practice of extracting coal in the State. Today, mining has become both commercial and mechanized,” he added.
The interim order of National Green Tribunal was passed following an application filed by All Dimasa Students’ Union, Dima Hasao District Committee against the State of Meghalaya.
The petitioners contended that the water bodies which are sources of water for human consumption and other related activities were severely contaminated in the downstream areas of Assam due to acid mine discharge from the mining areas in Jaintia Hills located in the upstream.
The people in Dima Hasao areas have been exposed to poisonous water which is threatening their lives and livelihood, the petitioners said.