By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: Coal miners in Meghalaya’s Jaintia Hills have decided to continue their hunger strike after rejecting a government proposal to frame a separate policy for small-scale mining, insisting that the priority should be revising existing land requirements that they say prevent local participation in coal extraction.
The decision was taken following talks between the state government and the Jaintia Coal Owners, Miners, Suppliers and Workers Association (JCOMSWA).
During the meeting, officials proposed setting up a committee led by the Chief Secretary to examine land norms and recommend measures for a new mining policy.
However, representatives of the association said the proposal failed to address their immediate concerns and offered no definite timeline for the resumption of coal mining in the region.
According to the miners, the key hurdle remains the scientific mining regulations, under which a mining lease can only be granted for an area of at least 100 hectares.
They argued that most landowners in Jaintia Hills do not possess such large tracts of land, making compliance with the requirement impractical.
JCOMSWA has instead sought a system similar to the one used for limestone extraction, where smaller plots can be treated as minor mineral leases, allowing local operators to carry out mining activities under less restrictive conditions.
“The government has asked us to nominate members to this committee, but there is no commitment on when mining will actually resume,” said Wansha Nongtdu, a resident of East Jaintia Hills who attended the meeting.
The association said the ongoing hunger strike would continue as no satisfactory outcome emerged from the discussions.
Protesters maintained that the prolonged halt in coal mining has severely affected the local economy, particularly in areas such as Wapung.
They said many families that once depended on the sector for income have struggled financially since mining operations were stopped following the National Green Tribunal’s 2014 order banning rat-hole coal mining.
To address concerns over livelihoods, the government suggested that those affected by the ban could seek assistance through the Meghalaya Environment Protection and Restoration Fund (MEPRF).
The miners, however, argued that financial aid cannot substitute for restoring mining-related livelihoods and resolving issues surrounding land eligibility.
The association further stated that it would wait for the visit of a High Court-appointed committee scheduled for June 29 before taking a final position on the matter.
Until then, members said the protest would continue, maintaining that a workable mechanism for small-scale coal mining is essential for the region’s economic recovery.