By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 2: Coal miners in Jaintia Hills have urged the state government to engage with the Centre to implement scientific mining practices that align with local realities. To press their demands, the miners will hold a public rally in Khliehriat on April 7.
The rally is expected to draw coal miners, truck drivers and workers who have been affected by the prolonged restrictions on mining.
The Jaintia Coal Miners and Dealers Association (JCMDA) informed that the protest is aimed at pushing both the state and central governments to formulate a policy tailored to the region’s unique landholding patterns and geography. “We want the state government to take up the matter with the Centre to introduce scientific mining that is compatible with our traditional landholding system and way of life,” JCMDA president Borrin Shadap told reporters on Thursday.
He noted that central guidelines currently require large tracts of around 100 hectares for scientific mining, which is unfeasible in Jaintia Hills where most coal deposits are spread across small holdings of 3 to 6 hectares. Welcoming the recent Supreme Court developments, Shadap stated they reinforce the rights of indigenous landowners under the Sixth Schedule.
Meanwhile, JCMDA member Sambormi Lyngdoh voiced strong opposition to open-cast mining, describing it as unsuitable for the local terrain and environment.
He stressed the need for a framework that protects small-scale miners, noting that nearly 90 per cent of the Jaintia Hills population depended on coal-related activities for their livelihood before the ban.
