SHILLONG: The Informed Conscious and Responsible Existence (ICARE) on Wednesday backed the National Green Tribunal ban on rat-hole coal mining while terming it as “a refreshing dose of judicious governance.”
“The form of rat-hole coal mining in Meghalaya has been the cause of a host of troubles for the state and its people. It has caused the death of many of our rivers. It has adversely affected traditional agriculture. Drinking water sources have dried up. It is turning coal mining areas of Meghalaya into uninhabitable wastelands. As such the ban on this type of unscientific and exploitative from of mining is most welcome,” ICARE president Toki Blah said even as he expressed shock over the decision of the State Government to appeal against the ban.
Blah termed the proposed appeal as “anti-people and anti-environment” and hoped that the National Green Tribunal would outrightly reject the request.
Blah, however, maintained that that the plight of the less unfortunate who depended on the mining industry for their livelihood could not be overlooked and there was an immediate need to address their grievances.
“Sustainable livelihood options need to be introduced on a fast track basis as an alternative. Special programmes under NREGA, Integrated Basin Development and NERCOM can be activated as immediate relief interventions for the affected common man in the coal mining areas,” the ICARE president said.
