SHILLONG: Mounting pressure on the state administration, a delegation representing the Joint Action Committee (JAC)—which includes the Stone Crushers Owner Association, the Quarry Owners and Workers Association, and the Trucker and Transporter Association—met with Deputy Chief Minister and Committee Chairman Prestone Tynsong to demand immediate action on promised amendments for small-scale stone and sand quarrying.
Addressing the press after the meeting, JAC advisor Moskalender Marngar emphasized that the delegation’s visit directly stems from a massive public gathering in Umphyrnai, where local quarry workers whose daily livelihoods depend on traditional stone and sand extraction voiced acute anxieties over their economic survival.
Responding to the delegation, Tynsong explained that the government needs an extension to completely overhaul and refine the regulatory framework, noting that earlier amendments hit a roadblock when the central government rejected specific clauses due to practical implementation hurdles.
As a result, Tynsong asked for more time for the concerned department to re-evaluate the guidelines before presenting them to the state cabinet for renewed discussions.
The high-level committee was initially formed in the wake of widespread public protests against sudden bans on small-scale quarrying driven by regulatory vacuums.
Acknowledging public distress, the government constituted a 16-member body comprising 12 official members and 4 public representatives spanning Garo Hills, Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills, and West Khasi Hills to find a viable solution.
However, small-scale operators continue to suffer severe financial setbacks under current laws that heavily favor formal permit holders, leaving economically vulnerable laborers stranded.
In light of these mounting challenges, the JAC has strongly appealed to the government to fast-track inclusive, well-rounded regulations tailored specifically to protect small-scale operators and workers, ensuring they are shielded from the exclusionary impact of current policies.
(4FrontMedia news)
