Meghalaya mine tragedy: Despite large-scale exploitation, successive govts colluded in concealing illegal mining in North East
6 years ago

Meghalaya mine tragedy: Despite large-scale exploitation, successive govts colluded in concealing illegal mining in North East

Firstpost  

The issue of illegal mining in India was raised multiple times in the Parliament, and both the UPA and NDA answered them, yet Meghalaya doesn’t feature anywhere in their responses Illegal mining is like slavery. It was pushed into the limelight when Congress which ruled at the Centre encouraged investigations by the CBI and the Lok Ayukata into illegal mining — first in Karnataka and then in Goa. Even while guns were being trained on Karnataka and Goa, the government presented data which had no information on illegal mining in the North East. The issue of illegal mining in India was raised multiple times in the Parliament, and the government submitted its responses as well.

India Karnataka Odisha Goa Meghalaya Mining Illegal Mining State East North Lok Mines Illegal Fines Illegal Miners North East Lok Ayukta Lafarge  north  exploitation  illegal  successive  largescale  fines  tragedy  mines  east  lok  state  karnataka  mining  govts  meghalaya  india

History of this topic

CBI's Raids Yield Rs 50 Lakh Cash in Jharkhand Illegal Mining Case
2 months, 1 week ago

CBI's Raids Yield Rs 50 Lakh Cash in Jharkhand Illegal Mining Case

ABP News  

CBI conducts raids at 16 locations across 3 states in connection with the illegal stone mining scam in Jharkhand. The CBI recovered Rs 50 lakh in cash, one kilogram of gold, and one kilogram of silver, along with property documents worth crores. The investigation focuses on Pankaj Mishra, an alleged political aide of Chief Minister Hemant Soren, officials reported.

Coal generates revenue for Meghalaya, but at what cost
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Coal generates revenue for Meghalaya, but at what cost

Hindustan Times  

Meghalaya is predominantly rich in tertiary coal deposits belonging to the Eocene age. Precious lives of undocumented labourers, intricate cave systems, alluring water bodies, and exotic flora and fauna continue to be adversely affected by the rampant and illegal coal mining that is still underway, despite a ban by the National Green Tribunal close to a decade ago, prohibiting mining …

State Should Have Provided Alternate Sources Of Livelihood To Those Affected By Cessation Of Coal Mining Operations: Meghalaya High Court
1 year, 6 months ago

State Should Have Provided Alternate Sources Of Livelihood To Those Affected By Cessation Of Coal Mining Operations: Meghalaya High Court

Live Law  

The remarks were made after State submitted that due to sudden stoppage of mining activities, people were forced to continue with it despite the prohibition. Finding no force in this argument, the bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee, Justices H. S. Thangkhiew and W Diengdoh remarked, The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday emphasized the need for the State government to …

High Court pulls up Meghalaya govt. for illegal coal mining
1 year, 9 months ago

High Court pulls up Meghalaya govt. for illegal coal mining

The Hindu  

GUWAHATI The High Court of Meghalaya has declined to exonerate the Meghalaya government from complicity in the export of illegally-mined coal to Bangladesh. Hearing a public interest litigation regarding the export of coal through western Meghalaya’s Gasuapara land custom station on Tuesday, the court took note of the State government’s submission that a system has been put in place for …

‘Illegal mining’ allegations sparks outrage in Jharkhand assembly
1 year, 9 months ago

‘Illegal mining’ allegations sparks outrage in Jharkhand assembly

Hindustan Times  

The Jharkhand Assembly on Saturday witnessed noisy scenes over alleged illegal mining in the mineral-rich state with opposition BJP MLAs demanding a probe by a House panel. The state government claimed that the number of raids against illegal mining has increased three times now as compared to the previous BJP rule. Responding to the allegations, the state government claimed that …

Meghalaya High Court Asks State To Identify 'Kingpins' Of Illegal Coal Mining, Take Appropriate Legal Action
1 year, 10 months ago

Meghalaya High Court Asks State To Identify 'Kingpins' Of Illegal Coal Mining, Take Appropriate Legal Action

Live Law  

The Meghalaya High Court on Monday expressed hope that the State will take effective steps to identify kingpins of illegal coal mining and take appropriate action in the matter. A full bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justices H. S. Thangkhiew & W. Diengdoh was hearing a Public Interest Litigation on the menace of Illegal Coal Mining in the …

Meghalaya High Court takes tough stand on illegal coal
2 years, 2 months ago

Meghalaya High Court takes tough stand on illegal coal

The Hindu  

The High Court of Meghalaya has directed the State government to ensure “not an ounce of illegally-mined coal” is allowed to be transported in trucks or other vehicles. The court told Meghalaya’s Chief Secretary and Director-General of Police that they would be accountable if any form of illegally-mined coal is discovered being transported in the State. “The DGP will instruct …

Miners Still Trapped in Meghalaya Coal Mine, Rain Hampers Rescue Efforts
3 years, 7 months ago

Miners Still Trapped in Meghalaya Coal Mine, Rain Hampers Rescue Efforts

News 18  

Heavy rainfall on Tuesday is hampering operations to rescue at least five miners trapped for two days deep inside an illegal rat-hole coal pit in Meghalayas East Jaintia Hills district, officials said. The district administration has identified five miners four from Assam and one from Tripura who were trapped at the coal pit in the remote Umpleng area of Sutnga …

Five Labourers Feared Trapped After Explosion in Illegal Coal Mine in Meghalaya, FIR Registered
3 years, 7 months ago

Five Labourers Feared Trapped After Explosion in Illegal Coal Mine in Meghalaya, FIR Registered

News 18  

A case was on Monday registered in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills police station on the basis of some eye-witnesses against an incident of illegal rat-hole coal mining which left five labourers feared trapped inside the mine after it collapsed due to a “sudden explosion of dynamite”. The district police were able to identify the probable location of the incident at …

‘Daylight loot’: Kashmir farmers suffer as rivers illegally mined
3 years, 9 months ago

‘Daylight loot’: Kashmir farmers suffer as rivers illegally mined

Al Jazeera  

Start of the apple season hampered by unabated mining of rivers, hitting thousands of farmers as government officials admit lapses. ‘River resembles a war zone at night’ Sources in the government said roads were identified as a “priority sector” by the administration to “showcase the turnaround” in the infrastructural landscape after the region’s special status was scrapped and it was …

Meghalaya: Six dead in illegal coal mine disaster
3 years, 11 months ago

Meghalaya: Six dead in illegal coal mine disaster

India TV News  

A mechanical structure collapsed at an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills district, killing six miners, an official said on Friday. While the workers were digging a hole in the mine the mechanical structure got dismantled following which they fell into a pit and died," he said. At least 15 labourers had got trapped after water from Lytein …

Meghalaya govt encouraging illegal coal mining, says NGO
4 years, 2 months ago

Meghalaya govt encouraging illegal coal mining, says NGO

The Hindu  

GUWAHATI A Meghalaya-based rights group has accused the alliance government in the State of encouraging illegal coal mining in contempt of a Supreme Court order. The State government later claimed tonnes of already extracted coal lying around various mining sites needed to be transported to prevent the local environment from being polluted. Coal miners had in December 2018 told the …

Mapping The Human Rights And Environmental Perils Of Illegal Coal Mining In Meghalaya: An Analysis
4 years, 3 months ago

Mapping The Human Rights And Environmental Perils Of Illegal Coal Mining In Meghalaya: An Analysis

Live Law  

The problem of mining in the North-Eastern region of the country has been incessantly perturbing the ecology over a while now. This reckless approach by the coal mining companies landed them in a quagmire when 15 of such miners got trapped Lumthari village of East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya which raised ethical as well as health concerns of the …

Meghalaya Miners: 2 Months Later, Centre To Finally Airlift 100HP Pumps & Call In Army, SC Told [Read Order]
5 years, 11 months ago

Meghalaya Miners: 2 Months Later, Centre To Finally Airlift 100HP Pumps & Call In Army, SC Told [Read Order]

Live Law  

Almost two months after 15 poor labourers got trapped in a flooded illegal rat-hole mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia hills district, the Centre on Friday accepted the suggestion of airlifting 100 HP capacity pumps to the nearest point of the site and install them "at the earliest" with the help of the Army authorities while the Supreme Court called for …

'Will not abandon' rescue of Meghalaya miners: Centre, Meghalaya govt assure SC day after navy suspends ops
5 years, 11 months ago

'Will not abandon' rescue of Meghalaya miners: Centre, Meghalaya govt assure SC day after navy suspends ops

Firstpost  

The Centre and the Meghalaya government told the Supreme Court that operations to rescue the 15 miners trapped in a rat-hole mine in the East Jaintia Hills district of the state will not be abandoned. The Centre and the Meghalaya government told the Supreme Court that operations to rescue the miners trapped in a rat-hole mine in the East Jaintia …

Meghalaya mining tragedy lessons go unheeded in MP as labourers face death and disease in quest for diamonds
5 years, 11 months ago

Meghalaya mining tragedy lessons go unheeded in MP as labourers face death and disease in quest for diamonds

Firstpost  

Even as nearly 20 died in separate incidents over the past few weeks while illegally mining coal in Meghalaya, similar operations continue to endanger lives in Madhya Pradesh. Those unable to make ends meet through mining are leaving their hometowns for Delhi and Bhopal.” ‘Healthcare initiatives alone not enough’ Social researcher Amulya Nidhi, who conducted a case study for Jan …

Meghalaya mining crisis: illegal, inhuman, anti-ecology
5 years, 11 months ago

Meghalaya mining crisis: illegal, inhuman, anti-ecology

Deccan Chronicle  

First the facts of the matter: Disaster struck on December 13 last at a rat-hole coal mine in Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, in which at least 13 miners got trapped due to a deluge of water rushing into the mine, following the break-down of the chamber due to unscientific illegal mining going on there. In 2014, the National Green Tribunal …

How is illegal rat-hole coal mining in Meghalaya still on despite NGT ban? Asks Supreme Court; bans coal transport till 19 Feb
6 years ago

How is illegal rat-hole coal mining in Meghalaya still on despite NGT ban? Asks Supreme Court; bans coal transport till 19 Feb

Firstpost  

The Supreme Court has ordered the Meghalaya government to file a detailed affidavit on whether inspections were being carried out at illegal rat-hole mines in the state. The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned how illegal rat-hole coal mining was still rampant in Meghalaya despite the ban on the practice impost by the National Green Tribunal. The Meghalaya government has been …

Meghalaya govt-coal mafia nexus aids illegal mining, decimates state's ecology, says activists' report submitted to Supreme Court
6 years ago

Meghalaya govt-coal mafia nexus aids illegal mining, decimates state's ecology, says activists' report submitted to Supreme Court

Firstpost  

Illegal coal mining in Meghalaya has dispossessed 76 percent of the local tribal population of their land, resulting in large-scale migration of the tribal poor to the urban centres of Shillong and Tura, the report says, adding that this was the major reason for inequality of wealth in the state. The report lists out a number of recommendations to curb …

Month after Meghalaya mine tragedy, NGT committee asks state police to investigate 1,200 cases of illegal mining
6 years ago

Month after Meghalaya mine tragedy, NGT committee asks state police to investigate 1,200 cases of illegal mining

Firstpost  

The Meghalaya police have been told by the NGT that their probe should reach a logical conclusion after taking into account all 1200 cases of illegal rat-hole mining in East Garo Hills, South-West Khasi Hills and West and East Jaintia Hills districts. An official said the police have been told that their probe should reach a logical conclusion after taking …

Meghalaya mine tragedy: One crore litre water pumped out, remotely-operated vehicles being used for rescue mission, state govt tells SC
6 years ago

Meghalaya mine tragedy: One crore litre water pumped out, remotely-operated vehicles being used for rescue mission, state govt tells SC

Firstpost  

The state government told a bench of Justices AK Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer that one crore litre of water has been pumped out so far from the illegal mine but seepage form nearby rivers was creating hurdles in the rescue operation. New Delhi: The Meghalaya government informed the Supreme Court on Friday that the Indian Navy has deployed five …

Meghalaya coal mine tragedy: Lack of employment, higher wages force Assam youths into unlawful mining jobs
6 years ago

Meghalaya coal mine tragedy: Lack of employment, higher wages force Assam youths into unlawful mining jobs

Firstpost  

A prime witness in the case, Sayeb, who managed to haul himself up with the help of an iron chain hanging inside, thanks God for choosing to save him from the 320-feet water-filled rathole mine. Sayeb, after all, is the lone survivor among the 15 miners trapped in Ksan coal mine of Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills since 13 December, even …

Meghalaya mine rescue operation: Centre tells Supreme Court it has no blueprint of illegal mine, struggling to locate miners
6 years ago

Meghalaya mine rescue operation: Centre tells Supreme Court it has no blueprint of illegal mine, struggling to locate miners

Firstpost  

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the Centre, told the Supreme Court that the Meghalaya mine was near a river, which has hindered the rescue operation. New Delhi: The Centre told the Supreme Court on Thursday that it was facing difficulties in rescuing 15 miners trapped since December 13 in an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya as there was no blueprint …

Plight of trapped miners in Meghalaya raises important question: Just how low will mining elite stoop to make a profit?
6 years ago

Plight of trapped miners in Meghalaya raises important question: Just how low will mining elite stoop to make a profit?

Firstpost  

Only by a strange twist of fate will the miners — trapped in the flooded mine at Ksan in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills for over two weeks — survive the catastrophe Only by a strange twist of fate will the miners — trapped in the flooded mine at Ksan in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills for over two weeks — survive …

In Meghalaya, where it took 15 deaths for the reality of illegal mining to hit hard
6 years ago

In Meghalaya, where it took 15 deaths for the reality of illegal mining to hit hard

The Hindu  

An ‘underground economy’ has for long been known to fuel Meghalaya’s politics. It has taken the collapse of a coal mine and – in all probability – the death of at least 15 miners for the reality of illegal mining to hit hard. Singh of the North Eastern Hill University that said mining in the coal belts and coal stockpiles …

Massive operation on to rescue 13 people trapped in illegal mine in Meghalaya
6 years, 1 month ago

Massive operation on to rescue 13 people trapped in illegal mine in Meghalaya

India TV News  

A massive rescue and search operation is on to pull out 13 people who are trapped inside an illegal 'rat hole' coal mine in a remote part of Meghalaya since last two days. Teams of NDRF and state police involving about 100 personnel are trying to reach the trapped people inside the the mine which is said to be 320-feet …

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