Photo Courtesy: nenow
Shillong: The Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council voted to push the Indian government to drop its ban on coal mining. All 30 members backed the move during a special session this Wednesday. They claim restarting the mines will fill the council's empty coffers and provide a much-needed payday for local families.
Mining stopped after a 2014 National Green Tribunal order. Since then, the council has watched its revenue vanish. They can no longer afford to fix schools or provide basic drinking water. Members argue that the lack of royalties has crippled community development projects. This is the first time the council has formally asked the Centre to scrap the restrictions.
Local officials want to shrink the required land threshold for mining. They argue that the current 100-hectare rule does not fit the state's rugged terrain. Instead, they propose a limit of four to five hectares to help small operators. Chief Executive Member Thombor Shiwat narrowed the proposal to small-scale ventures by clans or families, stating, "The proposal would apply only within Jaintia Hills."
The council also wants the state government to recognize tribal ownership of mineral resources. They plan to set up a local registry to track who owns what. Any new mining will still follow forest laws and pollution rules. The council is now sending these resolutions to the Governor and Union ministries to force a decision.
Comments