By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 29: Cabinet Minister and West Jaintia Hills MLA Wailadmiki Shylla on Wednesday said he shares the sentiment of the people on the coal issue, while calling for a relook at existing policies to better reflect ground realities in the state.
He stated that earlier decisions, though taken with due respect to the Supreme Court, did not fully take into account the local conditions, particularly the nature of coal deposits in the region, which he said are not suited for opencast mining.
Shylla pointed out that most people in coal-bearing areas own only small patches of land, making it difficult for them to adapt to conventional mining models.
He stressed that for many families, coal mining has been a traditional source of livelihood for generations and transitioning away from it is neither immediate nor easy.
He said miners require time and institutional support to shift to alternative systems, noting that abruptly discontinuing long-standing practices without viable options poses serious challenges.
While acknowledging concerns over rat-hole mining, including its environmental and health implications, he maintained that advancements in technology could offer workable alternatives if explored properly.
The minister said he favours a policy approach that balances regulation with livelihood protection and expressed hope that the concerned ministry would reconsider existing frameworks to accommodate the interests of small miners. It may be mentioned that although efforts towards scientific mining have been underway since 2018 and have shown some progress, high operational costs continue to remain a major hurdle. There have been calls for both the state and the Centre to develop a low-cost scientific mining model tailored to Meghalaya’s unique landholding system and geological conditions, enabling local communities to resume mining activities legally without prohibitive expenses.
Recently, the Jaintia Coal Miners and Dealers Association organised a public rally titled ‘Coal Rally: Voice of Livelihoods,’ pressing for a scientific mining policy aligned with local realities while safeguarding the livelihoods of thousands dependent on the sector in the Jaintia Hills.
