SHILLONG: Eminent environmentalist and noted film maker Mike Pandey feels that there are other viable ways of mining in this modern era of technology and it was the animals and the forest which suffer the most due to mining activities.
Pandey’s statement comes in the wake of the NGT ban on coal mining in Meghalaya.
“Animals, forests and grass root communities who cannot speak suffer the most,” Pandey said at a press conference here in the city on Wednesday.
He said development should not be injurious for people and it is never too late to reverse the damage which has been done due to coal mining.
He also expressed his concern over mining saying that it leads to water pollution and if unchecked it can cause Uttarakhand-like landslides.
He, however, said that people who have been affected by the ban on coal mining should be provided with alternative sources of livelihood.
Stating that people should learn from the natural calamity in Uttarakhand in 2013, he added that at present there is no concern among people for the environment.
Pandey said waste is the biggest problem in the world today and even the air has gone toxic and people are inhaling toxic air.
He also raised serious concerns over the mindless earth cutting along the Guwahati-Shillong Road for road expansion which is resulting in landsides. He was also concerned over the pollution of the lakes and water bodies in Shillong.
Noting that industrialization has just begun in Meghalaya, he cautioned that Meghalaya is very fragile and if the top cover of soil is affected by cutting of trees, all rivers will be silted when the rain comes and people would lose precious water resources.
He suggested that the State Government should implement the Forest Policy, Environment and Wildlife Policy and work out some sort of structure where all communities can work together for the protection of the environment.