SHILLONG: A collective of citizens under the banner of “Sur ki Paidbah ka Thaiñ Jaintia” (Voice of the People of Jaintia Hills) has launched a stern demand for the Meghalaya state government to immediately reopen coal mining. The group highlighted the severe economic distress and extreme poverty that has gripped the region following a ban that has now spanned eight consecutive years.
In a poignant appeal, the leaders of the group pointed out that even the Deputy Chief Minister of the state rose to prominence and achieved his current status through the coal mining industry. They urged him to take the lead in resolving the issue, emphasizing that he, above all, should understand the plight of the common people who are currently battling hunger and deprivation.
The group recalled that during the 2008 elections, coal was the primary livelihood that sustained the Deputy CM’s career, and they questioned why the public is now being left to suffer.
Furthermore, the delegation reminded the government that the Chief Minister himself had previously visited East Jaintia Hills and promised to resume mining within six months.
However, despite the passage of several years, no tangible progress has been made. Rio Dametre Shadap stated that since the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed the ban, a chain of poverty has shackled the entire state.
This has particularly devastated the education sector in rural areas, where many schools have been forced to close because parents can no longer afford fees or basic necessities for their children.
Echoing these sentiments, Bah Iowanki Chyrmang noted that before the 2018 elections, the current ruling government promised a solution within six months. He argued that even though the Supreme Court has recognized that land and mineral rights belong to the indigenous people, the government has failed to move forward.
He noted that since 1980, coal has been the backbone of the Jaintia Hills economy, supporting families and education for generations. The sudden 2014 NGT ban left a population that was traditionally trained in this trade in a state of total confusion and despair.
The leaders expressed frustration that while they have met the Chief Minister, the government remains stuck behind the technicalities of the MMRD Act, which requires land holdings of 10 or 100 hectares—a feat impossible for traditional miners in Jaintia Hills due to the unique land tenure system.
They are demanding that the state government draft specific ‘Mining Rules’ that blend traditional mining methods with modern scientific safety standards and approach the Central Government for a special exemption.
The group warned that the government’s eight-year delay and “empty promises” have driven some to illegal mining out of sheer desperation and hunger. Bah Rio Dametre Shadap further clarified that “Opencast Mining” is not suitable for the region’s terrain.
The organization issued a warning that if the government does not act quickly to legalize and regulate mining, the people are prepared to take to the streets in a massive agitation to reclaim their rights and livelihoods.
