Residents of the Khalu area under Shallang in West Khasi Hills have accused unscrupulous coal traders of illegally mining coal within their A’king land despite a ban against the practice by the Supreme Court.
The illegal extraction comes even as the area has been leased to Mahendraganj MLA Dikkanchi D Shira for the purpose of scientific extraction of mineral deposits.
In a letter sent to the Deputy Commissioner on December 15, the villagers said that they had assigned an agent and Nokmas of the Khalu Gare clan, through a general meeting held on July 21, had made a deed of agreement with Dikkanchi to lease all the coal deposits to her under the Asak Abri range, which belongs to the clan members. The lease was executed on September 8.
“We have leased the same to only allow for scientific mining to be carried out for the extraction of any mineral deposits. We have agreed that we shall not extract coal or any other mineral resources unscientifically within the said scheduled areas/land for scientific coal mining without proper consent of the agent and Nokmas and restrict the illegal activities of unscientific coal mining (rat hole mining),” said the complainants.
The villagers, however, stated that some coal traders, without consent, were still extracting coal from their land using rat hole methods. Acting against this, the landowners have ordered the individuals involved to stop such acts but to no effect.
Furthermore, the villagers alleged that, instead of listening to the villagers, the coal traders were targeting and threatening them with dire consequences. The situation is getting out of control and needs immediate intervention by the state authorities, they added.
“As legal owners of the land, we would like to seek necessary interventions by your office so that stern action can be taken against the violators, who are posing a threat to us. These illegal activities have to be stopped so that the above-mentioned lessee (Dikkanchi) can initiate steps for scientific mining to be undertaken on the land,” said the complainants.
