SHILLONG, Jan 12: A fresh controversy has surrounded Meghalaya after the recent deaths of three people in East Jaintia Hills, who are suspected to be coal miners, in view of which Social Welfare Minister Kyrmen Shylla has his hopes pinned on the central government for grant of scientific mining licences to the state soon.
He hopes that scientific mining will pave way for resumption of coal mining in the state and put a stop on people losing their lives while trying to eke out a living through illegal means.
“No doubt people try to go to the extreme to earn their livelihood but we will not encourage this,” said Shylla, while reacting to the deaths in East Jaintia Hills.
Referring to the statement of Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, who said that the process of approval of scientific mining is at a very advanced stage with the Centre, he said, “I hope the Centre will soon allow us to resume mining after following all guidelines so that our people are not forced to resort to illegal means to earn their livelihood”.
According to Shylla, licences for scientific mining have been applied by few.
“A lot of lives have been lost due to such illegalities. I hope such incidents do not occur again. We will try our best to see how we can help them so they need not go to such levels,” he added.
The coal-rich East Jaintia Hills region is witness to many mining tragedies and loss of innocent lives since the ban on rat-hole mining in the state in 2014.
However, illegal mining continues in interior areas which only come to light when a mining tragedy strikes.
The state government has also acknowledged the fact that it is not possible to detect each and every illegal rat-hole mining activity, especially ones in the interior areas.
