Jaintia Hills green crusaders write to Conrad on illegal coal mining, supply

SHILLONG: The Wildlife and Environment Protection Group of West Jaintia Hills has written to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma alleging that illegal coal mining and transportation are being carried out in the district and other parts of the state despite the ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal.
“There is brisk coal mining activities and environmental destruction at various places all over the state of Meghalaya. Transportation of illegally extracted coal is going on smoothly through NH-40, 44 and NH-6 in the state. It is surprising to watch all these illegal activities going on smoothly and well within the radar of the government,” the group said in its letter that emphasised that mining has not stopped in East and West Jaintia Hills and South West Khasi Hills.
The group pointed out that 130 trucks are supplying illegal coal everyday to the cement factories in East Jaintia Hills and around 200 coal trucks are leaving the state daily through government check gates at Ratacherra.
Similarly, about 150 trucks ply through Shangbangla in Ri Bhoi without entering the check gate.
The group alleged that officers in the Mining and Geology Department, Forest and Environment, State Pollution Control Board and the district administration “are not performing their duty honestly” and that there is nexus between government agencies and coal smugglers.
The NGT appointed judicial committee is expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss the environmental issues related to coal mining.
The group reminded the chief minister that earlier the state government had misled the Supreme Court with false report on the quantity of the already extracted coal that is yet to be transported.
“There is no more old coal left,” the group said.
To substantiate its claim, the green crusaders said a recent sample analysis of coal collected from various pit heads in Khasi and Jaintia Hills showed that the coal is fresh with high GCV and less ash content, besides possessing other characteristic features of freshly mined coal. The report may be placed before the Supreme Court in due course of time, they added.
The group of environmentalists stressed the need for initiating criminal proceedings against errant officials and miners to send a strong message.
It also called for auditing at cement factories in East Jaintia Hills to find the source of the coal, quantity being used daily and existing stock within their factory premises.
Reposing faith in the chief minister, whom the group praised for various eco-friendly initiatives, the environmentalists said the state government should present “actual facts” before the Supreme Court and “refrain from placing fraudulent records on the quantity of extracted coal”.