By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government is contemplating to come up with an Executive Order (EO) to hold mine owners responsible for any untoward incidents that might occur inside mining areas owned by them.
“We would soon come with the Executive Order as the Government is concerned over the lack of safety norms in mining areas across the State which is posing a serious threat to the life of the thousands of labourers who are working in these mines,” Deputy Chief Minister Bindo Mathew Lanong and in charge Mining and Geology said here on Thursday.
Even though there are provisions inside the proposed State Mining Policy that deal with safety measures, Lanong said that the main purpose behind the Executive Order is to have strong guidelines and laws over and above the guidelines in the proposed Mining Policy, since it is concerns human life.
With more and more people taking up mining in various parts of the State, the safety of the labourers inside the mining areas has become a critical issue, he said.
According to Lanong, the incident of 15 coal labourers being trapped inside a coal mine at Rongsa Awe area in Nongalbibra, South Garo Hills is an eye opener the Government.
Lanong also replied in the affirmative when asked whether the department staffs conduct regular inspection of the coal mining areas.
“But the mining policy, which is going to be implemented soon, has made it mandatory for coal mine owners to refill the pits once the mineral is exhausted,” Lanong said adding that re-afforestation programmes would also be made compulsory under the proposed Policy.
He, however, said that while implementing the policy, the government has to do a balancing act to ensure that the right of the owners over their land is not violated.
15 labourers still trapped inside coal mine
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister informed that the 15 labourers who are trapped inside the coal mine were yet to be rescued.
“The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) members are trying their level best to rescue the labourers. I have been informed that the NDRF personnel have been able to enter the mine but they were unable to find the labourers,” Lanong said.
He however informed that rescue operations would continue to trace the trapped labourers.