Our Bureau
KHLIEHRIAT/SHILLONG, April 7: Thousands of East Jaintia Hills residents poured on to the streets in a massive public rally on Tuesday, demanding the resumption of coal mining activities banned since 2014. From daily wage earners to business owners, residents of the region largely depend on coal-related activities for their livelihood.
The rally and public meeting, organised by the Jaintia Coal Miners and Dealers Association (JCMADA), was held under the theme “Regulating Traditional Mining into Scientific Methods to Sustain Livelihoods, Protect the Environment, and Ensure Labour Safety.”
The procession began at Teilang Phawa Playground in Dkhiah West and marched to the DC’s office in Khliehriat. Participants, including elders, women, youth and community leaders, carried banners and placards with messages such as “Hunger Makes People Angry.”
All shops from Ladrymbai to Khliehriat headquarters remained shut in support of the protest.
The residents were joined by former MP Vincent H. Pala, JHADC Deputy CEM Lasky Rymbai, JHADC MDCs Sankey Shangpung, Wailadameshwa Siangshai and Krison Langstang, legal adviser Kerlang Ksoo,
Hambertus Nongtdu, Nidamon Chullet (representing coke factories), Iaineh Sutnga, and JNC president Sambormi Lyngdoh, among others.
Highlighting the severe livelihood crisis caused by the prolonged ban, they pointed out that government revenue from mining has rarely benefited local communities, while policies regarding subsurface resources on Sixth Schedule lands remain unclear despite court directives.
Continued arrests of workers without intervention from representatives have added to the grievances. Speakers criticised the proposed open-cast mining policy, which requires a minimum of 100 hectares, saying it favours large players and elites rather than local small holders.
After nearly 12 years of the ban, speakers claimed that about 95 per cent of the district’s population depends directly or indirectly on coal-related work. This has led to widespread unemployment, pushing many youth towards crime and forcing students to drop out of colleges in cities like Delhi and Kolkata due to financial hardship.
The rally was the second major public demonstration against the coal mining ban. Participants warned that if their demands are ignored, they would be forced to adopt stronger forms of protest. They urged the government to formulate a balanced policy that protects the environment, ensures labour safety, safeguards water bodies, and respects Sixth Schedule rights.
A draft state coal mining guideline and the association’s proposed mining plan were also presented during the event.
After reaching the DC’s office, rally leaders submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister and the two Deputy Chief Ministers, requesting the DC to forward it to the state government.
Emerging from the meeting, the leaders gave the government three months to resolve the issue, failing which they warned of further course of action.
Demand for pocket mining
JCMADA member Sambormi Lyngdoh urged the Meghalaya government to adopt a regulated small-scale “pocket mining” model similar to Nagaland instead of large open-cast operations. He called for scientific regulation of traditional rat-hole mining, exemption from certain provisions of the MMDR Act under the Sixth Schedule, and a policy aligned with the state’s hilly terrain and small landholdings to generate revenue while protecting local interests and preventing dominance by outside companies.
The coal sector, he noted, supports not just miners but also transporters, shopkeepers and allied businesses across the economy. Illegal mining, meanwhile, deprives the government of legitimate revenue and affects even the functioning of autonomous district councils due to fund shortages.
