JOWAI: The Jaintia Coal Miners’ and Dealers’ Association (JCMDA) has requested the Chairman of the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) to summon a special session.
In its letter to the JHADC Chairman, the JCMDA, through its president Balios Swer, said that the NGT ban on coal mining in Meghalaya had badly affected the livelihood of all people who were directly or indirectly involved in coal mining and other related businesses.
The NGT ban has also severely affected the revenue of the State and that of the autonomous district councils, the letter added.
According to the JCMDA, the NGT ban has brought untold sufferings to the people, particularly the daily wage earners. School children have been forced to discontinue their studies, while some children have even been reported to have been sold, the letter said, adding truck owners have either surrendered their vehicles which are being towed away by the banks and other financial institutions owing to their inability to repay the sanctioned loans.
Banking transaction in the twin districts of Jaintia Hills has almost come to a standstill, the miners said, adding, most grocery, tea and food stalls have closed down.
The JCMDA urged the JHADC Chairman to initiate steps to convene a special session of the Council, to allow elected and nominated MDCs to discuss, debate and resolve the issue so as to provide remedial measures to the present impasse.
