By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 21: Families in East Jaintia Hills, traditionally dependent on coal-mining, have seen their livelihoods crushed since the 2014 National Green Tribunal ban on rat-hole coal mining. Once bustling with mining activities, villages in the district now grapple with debt and despair—as indirect jobs vanish alongside direct mining work.
Sutnga-Saipung MLA Santa Mary Shylla on Tuesday flagged worsening financial distress in the district, stating that the region remains heavily dependent on coal mining both directly and indirectly, and that recent restrictions have sharply impacted livelihoods.
She indicated that despite the government issuing four mining leases across the state, including two in East Jaintia Hills, the benefits have not translated into relief for the general population. According to her, residents are facing acute financial hardship, particularly after developments following the tragic mine disaster at Mynsngat-Thangsko on February 5, which led to stricter enforcement of law and order measures affecting mining activities.
The legislator conveyed that local communities have urged the government to examine loopholes in the current system and accelerate the rollout of scientific mining. She noted that while some mining approvals have been granted, they are limited and insufficient to sustain the broader population dependent on the sector.
Referring to existing provisions, she explained that the current mining model is based on open-cast methods, which she suggested are expensive and not feasible for many in the region. She added that local stakeholders have submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and relevant authorities, proposing alternative, low-cost scientific mining methods that could make legal mining more accessible.
She further conveyed that the demand is not to bypass regulations but to evolve a system that allows traditional miners to transition into legal frameworks without prohibitive costs. The MLA underscored that coal mining has been a long-standing economic activity in the region, and communities lack familiarity and resources to adopt high-cost scientific methods under existing norms.
Highlighting public sentiment, she referred to a rally held on April 7 in Khliehriat, where thousands of people associated with coal mining and allied sectors gathered under the banner of the Jaintia Coal Miners and Dealers Association (JCMDA). The gathering called on both the state government and the Centre to explore alternative scientific mining solutions and revisit current restrictions.
The MLA maintained that although the government has made efforts since 2018 to legalise and streamline mining operations, including initiating scientific mining frameworks, the high costs involved continue to act as a major barrier. She suggested that without viable alternatives, the region risks slipping back into the economic distress witnessed after the initial ban in 2014.
Calling for intervention, she urged both the state and central governments to consider flexible and practical models of scientific mining that balance environmental safeguards with ground realities, ensuring that livelihoods are protected while operations remain within the legal framework.
