Bandh in JH on May 17
JOWAI: The Jaintia Hills Coal Miners and Dealers’ Association (JCMDA) has called a 12-hour dawn-to-dusk bandh in Jaintia Hills on May 17 in protest against the move of the the Dimasa Students’ Union and the Dima Hasao District Committee to lodge a complaint to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), leading to NGT banning ‘rat hole mining’ in Meghalaya.
The decision to call a bandh from 6 am to 6 pm was taken at a meeting held at the office of the JCMDA, Dkhiah West.
Hundreds of coal mines owners, coal traders and residents of East Jaintia Hills were present. Prominent businessmen dealing in coal like Namon Bamon, former MDC, Seibor Shadap, former JHADC Chief, Hambertus Nongtdu, Nongkhlieh MDC, Richard Singh Lyngdoh, the Dolloi of Sutnga also attended.
Meanwhile, transportation of coal came to a complete stop on Wednesday, a day after prohibitory orders were issued under section 144 CrPC by the East and West Jaintia Hills District Magistrates.
Speaking to The Shillong Time after the meeting, JCDMA President Balios Swer said: “We are not against the NGT or the Government but we are against the Dima Hasao District Committee and the Dimasa Students’ Union. As a part of our protest and condemnation, we have decided to call a 12-hour bandh on May 17”.
The bandh would affect not only vehicle movements but also business activities including markets and shops.
A procession would also be taken out by coal traders, mine owners and all those connected with the coal business directly or indirectly. It will start at 8:00 am from Teilang Phawa Football ground, Dkhiah West and end at Khliehriat East, Petrol Pump, a distance of about two kilometres.
May 17 is a Saturday and a market day at Sutnga. Elaka Chief Erodit Sutnga informed that the Sutnga market locally known as ‘Iaw Khyllaw’ would remain closed on that day. However, ambulances, media vehicles and those coming for church services would be allowed to ply during the bandh hours.
The JCDMA Chief informed that various dorbar shnongs in East Jaintia Hills would take part on the procession. He requested people from other parts of the District in West, East Khasi Hills and Garo hills to support the bandh in protest against the ban on coal mining in the state
This Correspondent who visited the mineral rich East Jaintia Hills District on Wednesday witnessed that coal depots in various location wore a deserted look as no coal and coal related businesses was transacted.
Police personnel from Khliehriat, Ladrymbai and even in West Jaintia Hills were busy visiting coal depots to stop all kind of business, particularly transportation of coal. “We have detected a few trucks loaded with coal plying on the road and we stopped them. Later we pushed them back to unload the coal in their respective coal depots”, a police officer said.
People in East Jaintia Hills who mostly depend on coal related works were confused. They were sitting idle in tea stalls or playing indoor games.