Shillong, Oct 29: A Meghalaya government official has recommended the “sealing of entrance of abandoned coal mines with explosives to prevent reactivation” since the mines are located in far-off places that not only hard to reach but also impossible to monitor.

This recommendation featured in the 25th interim report of the Justice Brojendra Prasad Katakey Committee, in which the above recommendation was made by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of South West Khasi Hills district, in-charge of Ranikor Civil Sub Division.

“The coal mine belt in the district covers a very remote and extensive area. The terrain is extremely difficult and mostly non-motorable by normal vehicle. There are also countless abandoned coal mines, some of which could be easily reactivated in a very short time period,” the ADC said in the report.

The official added that even Bangladeshi nationals infiltrate into India and mine coal from these abandoned mines and take back the coal to Bangladesh. “Illegal Bangladeshi nationals infiltrate and covertly dig coal in remote places with the intention to carry the same to Bangladesh. In the past cases have been registered against such theft of coal by Bangladesh nationals,” the report of the ADC added.

According to the ADC some of these abandoned coal mines are in remote areas and can only be reached by trekking miles. Therefore it’s “next to impossible” to monitor these mines 24/7.

“Therefore, requested that permission, technical assistance and logistical support may be provided to enable the undersigned to explosively seal the entrance of some of the mines in order to prevent re-activation,” the ADC said.

The report further stated that in the absence of drones “inspection and monitoring becomes prohibitively difficult and inefficient leading to enormous wastage of time and effort in trekking to suspect mine sites.”

The ADC and other officials conducted an enquiry at Diengngan area on September 4th and 5th this year and found “presence of temporary settlements in the area and signs of recent mining activities in few of the places difficult to reach”.

There were no individuals found during the inspection, “but there seems to be some sign of recent previous activity in 2-3 of the difficult to reach” the ADC said.

Other officials have reported similar situation on inspection of these abandoned mines, saying, on the day or days of inspection, no illegal mining activity was found.

Justice Katakey in the 25th interim report therefore recommended that SoP made in his 24th interim report should be notified “to prevent transportation of coal illegally mined in the Meghalaya in the guise of coal brought from outside the Meghalaya.”

The Committee also recommended identification of suitable land for setting up of the smart integrated check gate to effectively implement the SoP. It suggested aerial survey of the concerned areas in regular intervals, and take appropriate action in terms of the provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act, 1957).

It further said North East Space Application Centre and the Mining and Geology Department should conduct a meeting “to find out the ways and means of having the aerial survey”.

Justice Katakey, in the report, added that appropriate applications should be filed before the “appropriate Courts of law seeking permission to put the quantity of coal, in respect of which the auction purchasers did not deposit the entire bid value, to re-auction.”

Also Read: 26 girls to take part in selection camp for spot in U-15 Meghalaya cricket team

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