Fight to save the caves  

North East News Agency

IT is a fight to save Mother Nature. The SC on July 24th admitted the PIL filed by Meghalaya Adventurers Association (MAA), an NGO engaged in mapping and conserving the exotic cave system of Meghalaya. The PIL seeks a ban on mining and cement factories which pose a threat perception to the largest network of caves in the sub continent, some of them dating back to millions of years. The MAA had to file the PIL because the State Govt appeared to encourage industrialists by announcing a 7 yr tax holiday, power and transport subsidies and other sops in a clear violation of environmental norms. Licenses were issued to big and small industrial houses for manufacturing cement limestone and coal mining through a single window system by sidelining various sensitive issues like harm to the ecology and taking away the land belonging to the locals. The bench headed by Justice Y.B. Sabharwal asked the centre, the state govt and the state pollution control board to submit replies within 4 weeks. Following this , immediately in a damage control exercise the Meghalaya govt decided to draft a mining policy to ensure a balance between the ecological and economical interests. To formulate the policy , the decision was also quickly taken to appoint a committee headed by the Chief Secretary. But on the other side the members of the MAA started receiving threats from the coal lobby . Even village headmen in Jaintia Hills have been warned not to support the association. Following this development the Meghalaya Police have decided to restrict the movement of people in the coal and limestone mining areas of Jaintia Hills to restrict groups with vested interests from disrupting the campaign launched by MAA.

Brian Kharpran Daly , the secretary of MAA and winner of the Tenzing Norgay award for adventure, feels that this is a fight for the sake of the heritage and history that is synonimous with the cave system of Meghalaya. ‘’The mining activities and the cement industries are endangering the caves as also threatening the eco and hydro balance, polluting air and water and destroying forests and non timber products’’ , said Daly. The State Govt also held a meeting with the MAA recently. It is understood that the CM, J.D. Rymbai asked MAA to withdraw the PIL and suggested formation of a sub committee to resolve the cave controversy.

The Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya is an abode of majestic caves that has attracted  nature lovers and speleologists over the ages. But the problem has stemmed from these caves lying in the vicinity of huge coal and limestone reserves. Coal mining has been going on for a long time and more recently , from the time of DD Lapang, limestone mining has also started with vigour with a number of cement companies having come in the fray. The coal and limestone business rakes in big moolah. The mining lobby is controlled by powerful people . In this backdrop, all credit should go to the MAA for taking this fight on.

IT is a fight to save Mother Nature. The SC on July 24th admitted the PIL filed by Meghalaya Adventurers Association(MAA) , an NGO engaged in mapping and conserving the  exotic cave system of Meghalaya. The PIL seeks a ban on mining and cement factories which pose a threat perception to the largest network of caves in the sub continent, some of them dating back to millions of years. The MAA had to file the PIL because the State Govt appeared to encourage industrialists by announcing a 7 yr tax holiday, power and transport subsidies and other sops in a clear violation of environmental norms. Licenses were issued to big and small industrial houses for manufacturing cement limestone  and coal mining through a single window system by sidelining various sensitive issues like harm to the ecology and taking away the land belonging to the locals. The bench headed by Justice Y.B. Sabharwal asked the centre , the state govt and the state pollution control board to submit replies within 4 weeks. Following this , immediately in a damage control exercise the Meghalaya govt decided to draft a mining policy to ensure a balance between the ecological and economical interests. To formulate the policy , the decision was also quickly taken to appoint a committee headed by the Chief Secretary. But on the other side the members of the MAA started receiving threats from the coal lobby . Even village headmen in Jaintia Hills have been warned not to support the association. Following this development the Meghalaya Police have decided to restrict the movement of people in the coal and limestone mining areas of Jaintia Hills to restrict groups with vested interests from disrupting the campaign launched by MAA.

Brian Kharpran Daly , the secretary of MAA and winner of the Tenzing Norgay award for adventure, feels that this is a fight for the sake of the heritage and history that is synonimous with the cave system of Meghalaya. ‘’The mining activities and the cement industries are endangering the caves as also threatening the eco and hydro balance, polluting air and water and destroying forests and non timber products’’ , said Daly. The State Govt also held a meeting with the MAA recently. It is understood that the CM, J.D. Rymbai asked MAA to withdraw the PIL and suggested formation of a sub committee to resolve the cave controversy.

The Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya is an abode of majestic caves that has attracted  nature lovers and speleologists over the ages. But the problem has stemmed from these caves lying in the vicinity of huge coal and limestone reserves. Coal mining has been going on for a long time and more recently , from the time of DD Lapang, limestone mining has also started with vigour with a number of cement companies having come in the fray. The coal and limestone business rakes in big moolah. The mining lobby is controlled by powerful people . In this backdrop, all credit should go to the MAA for taking this fight on.

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