By Albert Thyrniang
On 30 October an email come to my inbox that reads, “You been awarded 2 cr from covid 19 relief fund send name/number/add/age/ to [email protected].” Thereafter the same message came twice more. Though knowing fully well that the senders are cheats I was tempted to provide the details. After all there is a ‘possibility’ of becoming a crorepati!
In complete contrast was Kong Spelity Lyngdoh Langrin. The extraordinary lady rejected the Rs 45 crore or Rs 1.5 crore annually for a 30-year lease of her land. The legendary lady’s statement, “Money will not buy my freedom” might become folklore.
The Nonagenarian and anti-uranium activist breathed her last on October 28. Rich tributes were paid to her. She was called the ‘Iron Lady’, ‘an icon’, ‘a legend’,‘a Wonder Woman’, ‘the matriarch of Domïasiat’, ‘the Mother of anti-uranium movement’ and ‘the Face and Symbol of Meghalaya’s anti-uranium struggle’.
The uncompromised principles, conviction and courage of the simple, uneducated and perhaps illiterate land owner is truly admirable. Her refusal to part with her priceless land stood in the way of Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) to mine the yellow cake in Kylleng-Pyndengsohïong-Mawthabah in South West Khasi Hills. While we acclaim the heroics of the unsung hero; while we salute her undaunted spirit; while we hail her legacy few can emulate her example. Few can match her values. Few can rival her ‘sacrifices for the Jaitbynriew’.
The state is facing three suspected scams – corruption in the ADCs, illegal mining and transportation of coal and covid19 inflated expenses. Kong Spelity, as she was affectionate called, rejected the central money via UCIL for herself in favour of her village, the surrounding area and the people of Khasi Hills. The three ADCs received the one-time assistance worth crores from the central government meant for the people but allegedly misused the funds for their own welfare (paying salary for staff in case of JHADC), expenses for a non-existent museum (for KHADC) and ghost roads, bridges and footpaths, duplication of projects and high quotations for repairs of buildings besides exorbitant payment for film making and radio jingles. Councillors and contractors might have benefited at the expense of the state. A cover up must be going on in full swing. The interest of the people is forgotten.
Allegations of illegal mining and transportation of coal has been carrying on ever since NGT banned rat-hole mining in April 2014. Allegedly politicians, bureaucrats, coal barons and others are beneficiaries at the cost of the state’s exchequer running into hundreds of crores. Dismissive, the state government has given the least importance to the allegations and even refused to comply with the Lokayukta’s order for a CBI inquiry. Illegal miners and transporters will continue to pocket the cash including the revenue of the state for want of ethics unlike Kong Spelity.
The excessive covid19 expenses have raised many eyebrows. The Rs 399 crore expenditure in six months under generic heads for 9000 cases is more than six times the Rs 60 crore spent by Manipur for its 18,000 positive cases. Demands for detailed breakdown expenditure have not been met. Is there something amiss?
All the individuals and NGOs who adore Kong Spelity for her ‘No’ to the multi-crore in exchange for her land have not uttered a single word on illegal coal business, corruption charges against ADCs and the curious covid19 expenses. One would have expected a hue and cry. One would have liked a tsunami of reactions. One would have hoped for a bombard of queries. One would have anticipated agitations and hartals. But none of these took place. The civil society is very cool. The normally impatient pressure groups have maintained a stoic silence on the three alleged financial irregularities. They have raised no question. They have not demanded for any enquiry. They are totally indifferent to corrupt practices. In all likelihood they have stakes to lose if everything functions as per law. We have a long list of anti-uranium groups but few anti-corruption activists. Fans of Kong Spelity abound but disciples of the steadfast lady are hardly there. Hypocrisy is detected right here.
In the illegal mining and transportation only Civil Society Women’s Organisation (CSWO) has spoken against the malpractice. Regarding covid-19 expenditure only Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR) has demanded transparency and accountability from the government, fearing that unscrupulous individuals might have seized the pandemic as an opportunity to enrich themselves. Among the political parties, the BJP which initially came out with all guns blazing has now gone silent probably deciding to flow with the current of normalising corruption. The Opposition, Congress has made a noise or two and its leader is on a ‘verification tour’ of the coal belts but whether it is a temporary zeal or a result yielding effort, one is not sure. The almost forgotten man, Former KHADC chairman, PN Syiem has suddenly come out to demand a detailed report on the covid19 expenditure. As stated above NGOs and pressure groups have kept mum for lack of credibility in challenging the status quo.While we venerate someone who relinquished the opportunity of being a crorepati via fair means we don’t mind acquiring wealth the dishonest way.
The 95-year-old anti-uranium activist was laid to rest last Saturday in Domiasiat. There were prominent attendees from Shillong, Mawkyrwat, Nongstoin and other places. Earlier too anti-uranium proponents visited the uranium-rich area. None have highlighted the backwardness of the region. No one has narrated how tedious the journey from Shillong or Nongstoin or Mawkyrwat is. No one has posted pictures or videos of the pathetic road condition. No one has lamented over the never ending bumpy and dusty ride to the ‘Hima Langrin’. They don’t want to show to the world that due to the lack of the absolute basic amenities the residents of the uranium belts and its surroundings would be compelled to welcome mining in return for development and employment because the state government does not care. Anti-uranium lobbyists want the area to remain backward and the uranium mining to be shut forever. The home of the ‘mother’ of anti-uranium movement will remain the same.
Anti-uranium campaigners even link road construction to uranium. The Nongstoin-Wahkaji-Ranikor road was stalled due to opposition of the KSU and other groups under the pretext that the two lane highway is meant to facilitate uranium mining. They did not budge when told otherwise. One hears that under the same project the Ranikor-Moheskola and Nongstoin-Guwahati via Rambrai two lane roads have been accepted for the NHAI to execute the work. Some other similar projects are in the pipeline in the state. There will be no opposition. Why should only the Nongstoin-Wahkaji-Ranikor road be targeted just because it happens to pass near the uranium deposits? Why should the uranium areas be denied development? Besides, Uranium is found all along the entire western part of the state right from Jaintia Hills through Khasi Hills to Garo Hills. Does it mean that any proposed highway along this belt be opposed?
After the construction of the Nongstoin-Wahkaji-Ranikor road was blocked an announcement of the sanction of Rs 100 crore was made to repair the current road. The money has disappeared into thin air. The road leading to the village of the valiant lady is as terrible as ever. Thanks to the mineral, villagers in the uranium zone will continue to face neglect and step motherly treatment. They will only win admiration from Shillong, Nongstoin, Mawkyrwat and elsewhere for not handing over the land to UCIL. For sure anti-uranium enthusiasts will not stand up for the people of South West Khasi Hills.
This writer wants to keep open the possibility of mining uranium in Kylleng-Pyndengsohïong-Mawthabah villages provided it is 100% safe. One is of the opinion that the ultimate purpose of a mineral is to be utilised. Uranium too brings many benefits. However, the safety of the people is the utmost priority. At present the overwhelming majority in the state is against mining the ‘most dangerous’ mineral. In this regard UCIL has itself to blame. The horror of Jadugoda in, Jharkhand is too frightening for any risk. The documentary, Buddha Weeps in Jadugoda which was also dubbed in Khasi is not a fiction. There are reports that the ill effects from uranium mines on the 50,000 residents around the 25-km radius are an endemic. Radiation might be responsible for the common cases of deformed children at birth, miscarriages, stillbirths, physical disabilities, cancer and other mysterious diseases besides degradation of environment through hazards caused by tailings ponds, displacement of people, deforestation and loss of livelihoods. Additionally rehabilitation and compensation is absent as UCIL and the central government have denied that there are adverse effects of uranium in India’s first uranium mines.
Why should unprivileged citizens face nightmares for the country’s nuclear ambition? The lackadaisical record of UCIL in Jadugoda convinced Kong Spelity that Domiasiat and the 23 surrounding villages cannot be endangered for the sake of fulfilling the dream of the nation in producing 40,000 MW of nuclear power by 2030. With her passing we have lost an irreplaceable lady whose exceptional values we fail to uphold.
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