Social activist lodges complaint against illegal mining in 3 villages of South Garo Hills

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 29, 2023

A social activist has lodged a complaint against the ongoing illegal rat hole mining in South Garo Hills District.

The complaint was submitted recently before the retired Judge Justice BP Katakey, who was appointed by the Meghalaya High Court to head a committee, which will ensure compliance of the State with the directions of the Supreme Court and NGT, through the chief secretary of the state DP Wahlang.

Flaming B Marak, who is also the district secretary (Youth) of the Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Youth Power of India, had alleged in his complaint that illegal and unscientific mining is taking place at Jetra village, Darengre village, Udugre village under Chokpot area, South Garo Hills District, Meghalaya under the nose of the district administration.

“…(I) humbly pray that your lordship may intervene into the matter and may conduct a spot enquiry by visiting the above mentioned villages to ascertain the truth of the matter and to submit the finding before the full bench of the Meghalaya High Court for the interest of justice,” Marak said.

The social activist also alleged that the police department, district administration and other concerned departments are not serious in complying with the direction of Meghalaya High Court as the people had been witnessing such illegal mining taking place in these villages which clearly reflects that the government of Meghalaya is not serious in preventing the illegal mining and reluctant to comply with the direction of the Supreme Court, NGT and the various orders of the Meghalaya High Court.

He said that the Article 141 of the Constitution provides that it is mandatory to follow and abide by the order or direction issued by the Supreme Court of India, therefore it is on the light of Article 141 of the Constitution, the Meghalaya High Court had been issuing various directions to comply the order of the Supreme Court and to take preventive measures to stop the illegal rat hole mining and illegal transportation of coal in the entire state of Meghalaya.

The illegal mining and illegal transportation of coal have not only violated the law of the land and the constitution of India but it has incurred huge loss of revenue to the state of Meghalaya and also has affected the environment and more importantly due to illegal and unscientific mining have even led to loss of many precious lives as many labourers and miners have died in many tragic incident while operating the rat hole mining, Marak added.