By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Labour Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, who visited three coal mines in Garo Hills, has revealed that the mine owners had not registered the mines with the Government which makes it difficult to act on the incidents of deaths of miners.
Lyngdoh, who is camping in West Garo Hills, said that since the mines are not registered, the Government is finding it difficult to address the concerns of the miners.
In South Garo Hills, the mines were sealed by the district administration as they were found to be illegal since they were not registered.
“The conditions in mines and the surrounding areas are inhumane and this needs to be addressed,” the Minister said.
According to Lyngdoh, there is an urgent need to co-ordinate with the Mining and Geology and other related departments to deal with the issues afflicting the miners.
The Minister who visited Siju, Nongal and Jadi mines, admitted that there are a lot of exploitations taking place in the mines as the mine owners have become the beneficiaries at the expense of the miners.
Concerned over the sorry state of affairs, the Minister said that she will convene a meeting of the officials of the Labour department on Monday.
‘Garbage disposal a tough task in Garo Hills’
Tura, the headquarters of West Garo Hills, has remained a place without drains, according to Urban and Municipal Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh who visited several areas of the town.
The Minister, who is camping in Tura, said over phone on Friday that she along with the local legislator John Leslee Sangma carried out inspection in several areas of the town and found that there were no drains.
She said that without the cooperation of the people, garbage disposal has become a nightmare for the authorities concerned.
The Minister also deplored that there are no incinerators for the management of waste in Garo Hills.
According to the Minister, people are dumping garbage into the rivers and streams and also on the roadside which calls for measures to improve the infrastructure facilities in Tura town.
The Minister who also inspected the ITIs in Tura, Baghmara and Williamnagar, said that the basic infrastructures are lacking in these institutes.
The equipments in the ITIs are old there is also a need on the part of the faculty to update themselves with the changing times, Lyngdoh said.
She pointed that only one course (wiremen) is being taught in Baghmara ITI.