Coal news and updates

Court allows transportation of Meghalaya coal

June 09: The National Green Tribunal has allowed transportation of already mined coal lying at the pithead in Meghalaya after a review on June 09, industry sources said.

“While allowing the transportation of already mined coal lying at pithead, the tribunal has set up a high power committee to submit its report within the next three months,” the sources added.

The tribunal has imposed a ban on mining of coal in Meghalaya in April this year.

The decision to allow transportation of already mined coal was taken in a meeting of the tribunal in Shillong, the sources added.

Coal mining has been going on in Meghalaya since early 19th century, but, say estimates by the government, illegal mining has mushroomed across the state in the last two months. Most mines here are of the 'rat hole' variety -- small pits are dug in the ground and people crawl into these pits with next to no safety equipment.

The Tribunal had imposed a ban on mining as most such activities are illegal, dangerous and extremely polluting.

Locals have claimed that the ban will lead to the loss of two lakh jobs and have demanded that the government undertake rehabilitation measures for those who will be affected by the decision. According to latest figures by the Meghalaya government, the state produces nearly 58 lakh metric tonnes coal annually.

Most immigrants, who are employed in the numerous coal mines in the region, are now leaving for home.

Loud protests by coal miners in the region have prompted a rethink by the National Green Tribunal, which will meet on Monday in Shillong to review its order.

In the monsoons, many mines reportedly get flooded, resulting in a large number of casualties.

In 2012, 15 miners drowned in one such incident while in December 2013, five miners lost their lives when the cable attached to the coal bucket they were riding in -- towards the bottom of the mine -- snapped. Because the employees in these mines are immigrants, there are usually no records of deaths or injuries.

As many as 200 miners died in Meghalaya's coal mines in 2012, according to reports by the local media.

The Tribunal ban order also points out that coal mining in Meghalaya has led to immense air, water and soil pollution; the damage caused so far is irreparable

The locals are not convinced by these arguments and have demanded that the Tribunal should provide alternate employment if mining is banned.

In its meeting, while reviewing the ban, the NGT weighed the environmental hazards and safety issues posed by illegal mining against the loss of employment to lakhs of people.