By H H Mohrmen
Ask any visitor to Meghalaya of his impressions about the state and the first answer is always – ‘the state’s captivating natural beauty.’ If a SWOT (strength, weakness, opportunity and threat) analysis is done on the strength and weakness of the state, without doubt natural beauty of the state will figure prominently as the element where the strength of the state lies. The strength of Meghalaya is in the beauty of the place and not in what lies beneath the ground. That is what every tourist to the area carries home and the wealth and the health of the state too depends on how we manage this important resource.
For four decades the state has witnessed its own share of bad press by way of the Government’s handling (or more precisely mishandling) of the environment issue. But in 2014 with the implementation of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order the state noticed a rapid change in people’s attitude towards the environment and even Government was forced to act by the Tribunal’s order.
The upgradation of Narpuh from the status of a protected area to a wildlife sanctuary, the new approach to protect and preserve sacred groves and community forests and the NGT ban on illegal mining of coal in the state are some of the indicators that the State is beginning to get its acts together particularly in the area of protection of the environment. The April 2014 NGT ban on mining and transportation of coal in Meghalaya has brought to the fore the debate on this vital subject that neither the Government nor the civil society has given any importance to for more than four decades. Governments come and they go but every government that came to power in Meghalaya chose to ignore this vital issue and kept the matter pending despite the urgent need to address the issue. Despite calls from environment activists of the need to immediately address the issue and formulate a policy to manage and control mining in the state the governments chose to ignore the issue. The Government’s lackadaisical approach to the issue has led to the present predicament. It needed the NGT’s intervention to force the present Government get its act together and the impact of the ban is there for all to see.
The immediate impact of NGT ban is the fact that only after seven months since the ban was enforced it has helped change the mindset of the people. Now even miners have learnt to accept the truth that mining has indeed destroyed the environment. For the first time I have miners calling me to say that it is indeed true that coal mining has damaged the environment and also accept the truth that our streams and rivers are polluted. The other impact of the NGT ban is the fact that miners have also learnt to accept that they cannot do whatever they like with their land just because they own it. They have also learned their lesson the hard way that and this ia that the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution does not give them a license to destroy the environment and pollute the air and water in the rivers. And the third and the final impact of the NGT ban is that people are beginning to accept the truth that all central government acts, be it the Forest Act, Environment Laws and Mining Laws are applicable in the state in letter and in spirit. The state is not exempted from any central laws.
The very fact that the miners pay royalty and tax on coal as directed by the Committee constituted by the NGT before they supply extracted coal from the State is a clear indication that miners have accepted the Tribunal’s directive.
Seven months after the ban miners and their supporters have begun speaking on a different tone. This is not only a sign that at long last good sense has prevailed, but it is also an indication that now there is a common ground on which dialogue on how mining in the State can be regulated, can start.
Of course there are reports that mining has begun in some far-flung areas as soon as transport of coal from the state was allowed by the NGT constituted committee. A miner called me recently to inform that coal barons have started mining in certain areas whereas small fries like him who dare not violate the NGT ban are being left to watch what is going on with envy. It is also true that after the firing incident the district administration in East Jaintia hills is on the back foot and this could also be to the advantage of the miners who wish to exploit the time where transport of coal is allowed and start mining and transport the same during the window period.
Then there is also the incident where media persons were assaulted by a leader of the truckers who is also a prominent miner himself. All along the press in Jaintia hills have been in the forefront of reporting against the blatant violation of NGT order, but after the unfortunate incident media persons are apprehensive. They are concerned because first of all there is no mechanism to protect them from selfish elements that seek to harm them while performing their duties but more importantly the police are also late in taking action against a person who has been named in the FIR and this has only emboldened those who would go to any extent to serve their selfish gains. The other pertinent question is – if media persons who are sometimes called ‘watch dogs of democracy are not safe to do their duties’ then what about the common man?
Maybe there is something beyond what meets the eye in these two incidents. People are exploiting the aftermath of the firing incidents and also using the attack on the media person for their ulterior motives. Perhaps these are devices used to ingeniously intimidate both the district administration and the press, so that mining in the area can resume despite the mining ban that has not been lifted. If reports of the resumption of mining despite the ban is correct then one can’t help but agree that sometimes there is a method in the madness. Or even if these two incidents were not intended to intimidate the district administration and the media, the fact remains that it has helped some people to benefit from the incidents.
But the truth is that the people are now in a dilemma, they are asking how long the NGT will allow them to supply coal? And many are not even aware that the NGT has only allowed transport of extracted coal and ban on mining in still in place. Some are asking if the NGT will allow mining of coal in the state again and if so how? What happens when the estimated amount of coal as declared by coal mine owners or as estimated by the Committee constituted by the NGT is exhausted? What will happen next?
Only the State Government can answer the above questions or like the famous adage says, ‘the ball is now in the Government’s court. It is for the Government to convince the NGT to allow mining to resume in the State. If the NGT uphold its April 2014 ban on mining of coal in Meghalaya the Government has nobody but itself to blame for failing to come up with mechanism to manage, control and regulate mining. Come what may the truth is that seven months after the NGT ordered a ban on mining and transportation of coal from Meghalaya the battle to protect the state’s environment is only half-won.