Following strong directions by the Meghalaya High Court, the East Jaintia Hills district administration has today prohibited mining activities in the vicinity of the Krem Liat-Prah Cave, a key natural heritage site of Meghalaya.
East Jaintia Hills District Magistrate Abhilash Baranwal, imposing the prohibitory order under Section 144 of CrPC, said that Krem Liat-Prah Cave, located at Shnongrim village, is considered an important natural heritage site of the district and the State.
Baranwal in an order issued today said that reports have been published in some of the news portals and newspapers about the danger posed to the cave due to alleged mining activities in the vicinity of the cave.
“A recent inspection carried out by an official team has found certain circumstantial evidence which indicates that there might have been attempts at illegal mining activities in the vicinity of the cave,” it said.
The order said that any use of explosives within the immediate vicinity of the cave for any purpose has to seek a mandatory clearance from the office of the District Magistrate.
According to environmental experts, the Krem Liat-Prah is the longest (34 km) sandstone cave in the world, and it is also the longest cave system in the subcontinent.
Meghalaya is also home to many caves, 1,580 to be precise, experts said.