Sand quarrying to be regulated : CM Sangma

Shillong, October 23: To combat rampant mining in the state, Meghalaya government will soon have regulations in place instead of blanket ban on sand mining so that alternative options for earning livelihood for those involved in sand mining activity is provided.

Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma told reporters on the sideline of a review meeting of the government on Wednesday, “It is not necessary to ban but what is required is regulation of all these activities.”

Sangma said there is a need put in place a system for engagement with these stakeholders who are engaged in sand and stone quarrying or any other activities as their livelihood and accordingly prevail upon them to take up various other options of livelihood programmes which the departments concerned can provide.

Sangma said, “Departments have to identify certain areas which can be allowed for sand and stone quarrying and where certain restriction should be imposed.”  His statement assumes importance as mining activities in the state have ruined the forest land and polluted the water sources and flora and fauna.

An environmental group has also expressed concern over environmental degradation that resulted from illegal mining of minor minerals, including sand and limestone.

“Quarrying might lead to a catastrophe in Meghalaya like Uttarakhand if immediate measures are not implemented to check the menace,” Naba Bhattacharjee, environmentalist and president of Meghalaya People’s Environment Rights Forum (MPERF) said.

The environment group has also demanded punitive action against government officials who connived in the plunder of natural resources of the state, especially in the Jaintia and Garo Hills districts, where large-scale mining of limestone and coal are taking place.

In August, the National Green Tribunal had issued a restraint order against all sand mining activities without environmental clearance.

The decision is also in line with the order of the Supreme Court last year banning any kind of mining of minor minerals and sand without environmental clearance from the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests.- By Our Reporter