TURA: After witnessing decades of illegal coal mining from Rongrenggre Reserve Forest and its transportation to Assam, villagers of Lower Rongreng Baija in East Garo Hills District have had enough and finally put their foot down prohibiting the dumping of extracted coal in their area.
Besides imposing the ban, a coal truck was also seized by the villagers which has since been handed over to the officials of the Forest Department and the matter has also been reported to the District’s Superintendent of Police.
The daring move by the villagers who issued a statement to the media has raised the question of the involvement of many state government officials including those from the Forest and the Police Department and NGOs, without whose help the transportation of the mineral would not have been possible as there are many check points along the route.
The decision to no longer allow the mining and siding of extracted coal was taken by the local villagers in a meeting held recently.
President of the Lower Rongreng Baija Managing Committee, Dijendra K Sangma said that people were fed up of the illegal activity going on for so long that they decided to completely ban the mining and dumping of coal in the area.
“We finally took the decision to oppose it as our village and the people would also be affected if any law and order situation arises out of it,” Sangma said.
Sangma also warned that if anyone violates the ban, they would be apprehended by the villagers themselves and handed over to the concerned authorities.