Shillong, Mar 22: Former MLA Jemino Mawthoh has criticised the authorities over February’s illegal coal mine explosion in Thangsko, East Jaintia Hills, which resulted in the deaths of more than 30 people.
“All I can say is we’re heading towards a situation of a state of total lawlessness,” he told Highland Post recently.
Mawthoh questioned the enforcement of laws, asking, “When everything is in place, why is it so difficult to enforce? We’ve been talking about illegal mining and transportation and everyone says they’re against these illegalities but things keep happening on the ground.”
Rat-hole coal mining, such as that practised in Thangsko, has been illegal in Meghalaya since a ban was imposed by the National Green Tribunal in 2014.
Mawthoh, who resigned as general secretary from the United Democratic Party last year, emphasised that if incidents continue to occur, it means the state has failed to enforce the law, leading to lawlessness. “Everyone is doing whatever they like, which isn’t done because there’s a law-enforcing agency, police and district administration. If there’s no sincerity from those in charge, things will keep happening and it’s unfortunate that precious lives have been lost.”
The UDP is part of the governing coalition, the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance. However, Mawthoh, as a politician not holding elected office, was more vocal in his criticisms of what he perceived to be government failures.
He also told HP that he was worried that there are many more cases of illegal coal mining and related accidents that do not make it to the news. Since Thangsko, the state government has constituted a judicial inquiry, not just into the blast but other coal-related issues.
Questioning the effectiveness of the judicial inquiry, Mawthoh stated, “Let’s understand the seriousness of the problem and how serious we are about the probe. We want everything to come to light, not just play around, because we’re talking about losing precious lives and violating existing rules.”
He criticized the use of dynamite in underground coal mining, saying it speaks volumes about the law and order situation in the state. “If we can’t regulate these illegalities, how can we bring corrective measures to the system? We must make efforts; otherwise, if the system stays loose, every man will be for himself.”
Mawthoh also expressed concern about environmental deterioration due to coal mining, one of the main reasons for the 2014 ban. However, he also had sympathy for those whose livelihoods depend on coal, as its extraction has been a source of income for decades. Mawthoh stressed that alternatives should be provided and that issues should be addressed realistically and objectively.
