Shillong (Meghalaya), May 14: The Jaintia Coal Owners, Miners, Suppliers & Workers Association has appealed to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma for urgent action on the decade-long coal mining restriction, calling it a “human and livelihood crisis” in East and West Jaintia Hills.
In a memorandum, JCOMSWA said the 2014 NGT ban has left landowners unable to use their coal, trucks rusting, and families in distress. It flagged school dropouts, youth migration, and child labour pushed underground as mining went illegal.
The body said rivers like the Myntdu and Lukha remain polluted from past unregulated mining, leaving communities “suffering twice over” — with no income and lasting environmental damage.
Clarifying it does not seek a return to unsafe rat-hole mining, the group urged a “lawful, regulated, safe” path for indigenous landowners. Its five-point prayer includes Centre-state-ADC talks, interim livelihood aid, urgent river restoration, a consultative forum, and legal advice under the Sixth Schedule.
“Patience cannot feed children,” the memo said, adding that JCOMSWA is ready to assist the government with consultations.
In a memorandum, JCOMSWA said the 2014 NGT ban has left landowners unable to use their coal, trucks rusting, and families in distress. It flagged school dropouts, youth migration, and child labour pushed underground as mining went illegal.
The body said rivers like the Myntdu and Lukha remain polluted from past unregulated mining, leaving communities “suffering twice over” — with no income and lasting environmental damage.
Clarifying it does not seek a return to unsafe rat-hole mining, the group urged a “lawful, regulated, safe” path for indigenous landowners. Its five-point prayer includes Centre-state-ADC talks, interim livelihood aid, urgent river restoration, a consultative forum, and legal advice under the Sixth Schedule.
“Patience cannot feed children,” the memo said, adding that JCOMSWA is ready to assist the government with consultations.
