Provides alternative livelihoods for mining-affected communities, says Katakey Committee

Shillong, Feb 13: Justice (Retired) BP Katakey committee has asked the state government to make serious efforts in implementing the various projects to provide alternative livelihood to the people affected by mining activities in the state.

Submitting his 27th interim report to the Meghalaya High Court, Katakey said, “(We recommend) the Govt of Meghalaya to make serious efforts in implementing various projects to provide alternative livelihood to the people affected by mining activities, so that possibility of continued illegal mining activities in the State could be avoided, as the coal miners may continue to indulge illegal activities for earning their livelihood,”

It also asked the state government for immediate commencement of implementation of the approved projects having regard to the purpose for which such programs are approved by the Oversight Committee.

The report informed that the Secretary, Mining and Geology Department has apprised the Committee that the Oversight Committee had in its seventh sitting held on 16th October, 2024 under the Chairmanship of Amandeep Garg, IAS, Addl Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change taken up the issue relating to the formulation of schemes and other alternative forms of livelihood to the people of mine affected area/village for discussion and after a brief discussion, the approval was granted for the following projects with the following conditions: “The implementing agency must strictly follow the terms of reference outlined in the DPR. The implementing agency is required to submit a quarterly progress report to the Technical Committee, which will review the reports and provide feedbacks to the Oversight Committee and; The project’s progress will be subject to random monitoring by the State Level Monitoring Committee (SLMC), Directorate of Mineral Resources and State Forest Department.”

The Committee has also been apprised that the following projects are approved by the Oversight Committee in its seventh sitting and these include: “Rehabilitation of communities in coal mining areas through aromatic plant cultivations by Institute of Natural Resources at Rs 20,18,250, Conservation Project of Law Adong near Shadshrieh falls, Sohra to promote Eco-Tourism by Forest & Environment Department at Rs 1,32,50,000, Proposal for Organic Model Firm by District Horticulture Office, Khliehriat at Rs 51,28,532, Proposal for setting up of a Barsha Pump Project by Divisional Soil & Water Conservation Officer, Khliehriat at Rs 18,50,000 and Proposal for alternative Eco-Friendly livelihood to the people of mine affected areas (includes social intervention programme, training intervention programme and distribution of toolkits) by Directorate of Commerce & Industries at Rs 22,28,100.”

It has also been apprised that several more projects proposed by various departments and respective Deputy Commissioners are under consideration of the Technical Committee before forwarding to the Oversight Committee for approval. “From the aforesaid information furnished by the Secretary to the Govt. of Meghalaya, Mining and Geology Department, it transpire that no project for providing alternate source of livelihood has yet been implemented, though the same is of extreme urgency and necessity, so as to curb illegal mining activities in the State,” the report had stated.

Read: Meghalaya HC orders Govt to finish weighbridge inspections by April

WATCH:

Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.

3 arrested with huge cache of arms, ammunition in Mizoram’s Lunglei

Tripura CM lays foundation stone for projects, gives stern warning against spread of insurgency in state