By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 24: With coal mining virtually paralysed in Jaintia Hills, the Jaintia National Council (JNC) has sought exemption from the Mines and Minerals Development and Regulation Act, warning that the current framework does not align with the region’s terrain or geological conditions.
The demand was placed following a meeting convened by JNC president Sambormi Lyngdoh to review the ongoing fallout of the coal mining ban and its wider implications for livelihoods in the region.
Stating that the provisions of the Act are difficult to implement in Jaintia Hills, Lyngdoh maintained that they fail to reflect local realities.
He cautioned that even small-scale extraction under the existing framework could cause severe environmental damage, potentially turning large tracts of land into what he described as a “sea of destruction.”
Informing that the JNC has already urged the concerned commission to grant exemption, he said that without such a move, coal mining operations in the region would remain stalled.
The commission had also sought the JNC’s views on alternative livelihood options beyond coal. In response, the JNC outlined proposals under its ‘Save Jaintia Mission’, calling for government-backed private planning policies to generate employment.
Pointing to an imbalance in industrial ownership, Lyngdoh said nearly 80 per cent factories are owned by outsiders while only about 15 per cent are in local hands. He then argued that policy intervention could help create jobs within the district.
The council further recommended the establishment of skill development institutes to prepare local youth for employment in existing industries. It also highlighted the need to strengthen agriculture, noting that current industrial activity—dominated by cement and coke plants—continues to contribute to environmental degradation.
Emphasising diversification, the JNC proposed agro-processing units to harness local produce. Lyngdoh cited the large-scale cultivation of oranges (Soh Niamtra) and called for the establishment of facilities to produce orange juice (UmSoh), expressing hope that such initiatives could support the local economy.
He added that the commission has asked the JNC to submit a detailed written statement, outlining seven to eight key points, to formalise its recommendations for further consideration by the government.
