TURA, Aug 25: The latest coal mine tragedy in the village of Urak (Riangdim) in West Khasi Hills has once again opened up the ‘Pandora’s Box’ of problems for the state and the district administration. As usual the trading of charges between the Opposition and the ruling coalition takes a familiar turn with no definite action emerging from either side on putting an end to this state-sponsored illegality.
The pertinent question that arises each time a tragedy strikes is whether this form of illegal coal mining and transportation can be stopped once and for all. The answer is beset with myriad improbables, the loss of livelihoods being one but underneath that alibi is human greed.
Coal mining in Meghalaya, before it was banned by the National Green Tribunal, involved more than two lakh people from within and outside the state. Their involvement began from mining for coal in the depths of the rat-hole mines to bringing up the mineral and then loading of coal, unloading of coal as well as its transportation.
The coal mining industry further helped benefit a huge number of indirect beneficiaries including shop owners on the highway through which coal was transported, businessmen from the other states and the hamlets closest to the mines. But since the ban on coal mining, all of those involved in the trade have taken a major economic hit.
The ban on coal mining in its current form has led to most major players looking at alternative ways but mostly through the continued illegal mining of coal. Faced with a situation where their families faced hunger, most labourers and small businessmen have taken to illegal mining and transportation in the absence of a scientific mining plan which the state is yet to come up with as directed by the Supreme Court.
Coal mining used to yield a revenue of Rs 600 crore a year. Illegal mining and transportation has put an end to this revenue source.
“People have been pushed into a corner and the only opportunity they saw was to continue mining coal and somehow manage its transportation – through whatever means necessary. Of course when mining and transport is illegal, there are no taxes paid to the government. All the money that would have otherwise gone into government coffers has now ended up in private hands,” a coal miner from South Garo Hills told The Shillong Times on the condition of anonymity.
The mining and transportation has been going on since 2014 with the tacit support of the state government.
For instance a non-existent village, apparently in the border between South Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills named Semingkegre has been named as a source of coal extracted before the ban. In 2017, some private parties approached the Supreme Court seeking permission to transport at least 6.5 lakh MT of coal from the place. The coal was apparently not assessed initially by the NGT through the state government.
The Supreme Court, upon being approached by the petitioners, allowed the transportation of coal following an endorsement by the South Garo Hills district administration of the coal being present there.
The apex court directive to allow transportation of extracted coal was legal except that there is no village by the name presented to the court; so the question of nearly 75,000 (9MT) trucks allegedly dumped in the village, does not even arise since there is no such village.
The above story demonstrates the modus operandi of the illegal coal trade in Meghalaya.
Recently following continuous reports of illegal mining and transportation of coal, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, refuted the reports. He further added that only previously mined coal was being granted transport permission.
However the intervention of the judiciary, which took suo motu notice of the situation, indicated otherwise.
The Chief Justice and other judges of the High Court of Meghalaya even paid impromptu visits to coal-belt areas in East Jaintia Hills to prove its point before coming down heavily on the transgression. However, there has been no supervision due to early onset of rains.
The recent mining death of a resident of North Garo Hills in a remote village of West Khasi Hills however once again re-opened the case. Under the prevailing circumstances it is the state government – district administration and police combined – that must bear the blame for the continued illegality.
The mine in question was not only set up in a remote part of the district but required travel on foot of at least 3 hours. The police have an unenviable job trekking to these back of beyond spaces. The closest police station, Shallang was only about 30 km away but required travel for 15 km through some of the most back-breaking roads followed by trekking on foot for equal amount of time.
“Most of these mines are in extremely remote forests and hence hidden from public view. Given our human resource strength, it is impossible to make visits even monthly visits to these areas to check if coal mining is happening. Add to that the fact that there could be hundreds if not thousands of such mines, all of which are hidden. Unless someone informs us of what is happening is it humanly impossible to keep tabs on such activities,” said a high level police officer from the district.
So how does one control such illegal activities?
The first thing for the present government to accept that illegal rat hole mining is a reality. Next would be work on seizing all such coal dumps in the state and a realistic assessment made.
“The only control that the government will have is in the transportation of coal. If illegal transportation is stopped, illegal rat-hole mining will no longer be lucrative for mine owners.
“Without a market there is no point in extracting coal. It will only increase the burden on the miners if they still continue. This however is easier said than done. We live in an age of instant gratification so unless the government is absolutely clear on its mandate of stopping illegal coal, there is little chance that anyone else can,” added another police source.
The next option for the present dispensation would be to auction the so called 32 lakh MT of coal that is apparently lying in the various parts of the state. Allowing the movement of this auctioned coal will not only stop illegal mining but also provide the state with much needed revenue.
With challans (p-forms) being easily available, the situation for coal transport will definitely ease as would the prices of these forms. Some miners, who earlier used these challans informed that challan sale had actually become a separate business altogether.
“The parties that are given the right to transport coal sell these forms for over Rs 75,000 each, even though they only buy it at about Rs 15,000 a form. This has led to major hassles and losses for us miners,” stated the source, none of who wanted to be named.
While the current situation of illegal coal mining does not appear positive, the advent of scientific mining as per the MMDR Act 1957, in the state could pave the way for the future of coal mining that would also look after environmental concerns. However even then, rat-hole mining will remain since it yields more profits for mine owners.
