Editor,
Apropos the news, “Tough task ahead for Kropha panel” (ST Oct 14, 2014), the total estimated reserve of coal in India as on 31st March 2012 is 293.50 billion tonnes. The highest estimated reserve is in Jharkhand (80.36 billion tonnes) followed by Odisha( 71.45 billion tonnes), Chhattisgarh 50.85(50.85 billion tonnes), West Bengal (30.62 billion tonnes),Madhya Pradesh (24.38 billion tonnes), Andhra Pradesh (22.16 billion tonnes) ,Maharashtra (10.88 billion tonnes) and followed by Uttar Pradesh (1.06 billion tonnes).
The total estimated reserves of coal in Meghalaya is 0.58 billion tonnes that is 0.20 percent of the country’s reserve with an average depletion rate of 0.11 million tonnes between 1961-1970, 0.09 million tonnes between 1971-1979, 0.16 million tonnes between 1980-1985, 2.38 million tonnes between 1986-1988, 3.75 million tonnes between 1989-1994, 4.42 million tonnes between 1995-2000, 6.39 million tonnes between 2001-2006, 6.54 million tonnes in 2007-08, 5.48 million tonnes in 2008-09 and 5.77 million tonnes in 2009-10 .
Given the above facts it is not a big deal for the NGT Constituted Committee to submit a complete and comprehensive report on the methodology along with the mining plan to be adopted in order to facilitate scientific mining for those engaged in the business of mining. In an age where work can be outsourced you do not have to wait for the office babu to prepare a comprehensive report but engage a specialised agency and get cracking and move forward so that everyone who is employable is legally and gainfully employed.
Yours etc.,
VK Lyngdoh,
Via email
NGO threats: time to call their bluff
Editor,
This refers to the news item “RBSU warns NKC Pvt. Ltd. for sacking local youths” (ST Oct 14, 2014). I have no particular interest in NKC Pvt Ltd’s affairs, besides the fact that it is building the Jorabat-Umiam 4-lane highway which affects the people of my state directly. What has got my goat is the news that an NGO called RBSU is issuing threats to NKC Pvt Ltd (who it hires or fires) which will automatically impact quality control and delivery timelines of this national project. RBSU does not have a leg to stand on if challenged in Court. It is doing what NGOs typically do to non-local companies hired for infrastructural works – sabotage the work with bullying, threats and violence until the company is forced to wind up its operations and make way for an inept local contractor backed by the NGO. The people are sick and tired of the way NGOs extort money from everyone to buy their flashy cars and build their flashy homes. Not one of these NGO leaders has become rich through hard work or legal means. They are nothing more than criminals, with huge amount of unaccounted wealth extorted illegally from all and sundry. If truth be told, Meghalaya’s NGOs are CRIME SYNDICATES in the garb of do students’ unions. The Govt is party to their criminal activities because it has done nothing to stop them or even investigate them. If Govt. wants, it can easily book all NGO leaders on charges of fraud, extortion and unaccounted assets. At least, the Govt can start by arresting NGOs who issue such threats or hold up national projects. But Congress being Congress, I suspect the State Govt will continue fishing in troubled waters and make unholy pacts rather than doing the right thing. We need Central Govt intervention in Meghalaya to wipe out this menace once and for all. NGOs are working hard to enrich themselves and their near and dear ones. It is the ordinary people who have borne the cost of their misadventures and are wallowing in poverty as a result.
Yours etc.,
Bill Syiem,
Via email