Shillong, Jan 22: As State authorities continue to deny illegal mining of coal and its transportation, activists from the Jaintia Hills region, despite threats and coercion from the coal mafia, expose the government lies time and again.
Moolait, in East Jaintia Hills at present, has been cited as a hotbed of illegal coal mining in the State. Activists, who don’t want to be named due to fear of intimidation and coercion from coal mafia operatives, named villages of Sakhain, Sakwang and Tangsko where illegal mining operations are being carried out under the nose of authorities.
Reports suggest that local authorities exhibit either indifference or complicity towards these illegal activities, allowing them to thrive unchecked. It is also learnt that in the past, farmers from Jarain, Moolimen, Sakhain, Tluh, Moolammyliang and Tyrke used the land called, “sorkari” by the locals, for agricultural purposes.
Activists and residents have alleged that local officials, particularly those associated with Elaka Sutnga, are involved in facilitating illicit activities, and are influential figures in the government.
Activists have called for the Meghalaya High Court to take suo moto action and get the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) instead of the state police, to check illegal mining activities and the transportation of illegal coal through the highways.
By monitoring transportation of coal from the Sookilo area, considered as a gateway for illegal transportation of coal, the CISF can help prevent illegal activities, activists felt.
Clearly, there are those conscious of the environmental destruction and the generational impact it will have. They are desperately reaching out for support to stop the destruction of their homeland.
Asking questions about coal mining, limestone mines and cement factories, and stone quarries can leave one dead or severely injured.
Jaintia hills based RTI activist Poipynhun Majaw, who asked about limestone mines and proliferation of cement factories in East Jaintia Hills and had filed PILs in the Guwahati High Court about these activities was found dead with severe injuries in March 2018. That same year we’ll known anti-mining RTI activist Agnes Kharshiing and her teammate, Amita Sangma were brutally attacked by the coal mafia and left for dead but they survived.
The latest is the murder of Dilseng Sangma, who was killed by a gang of men while he led his organization members to see the illegal stone quarries in Garo hills.
