Now that the Union Ministry for Mines & Coal, G Kishen Reddy has granted permission for extracting coal from smaller mines and done away with the 100 hectare per mine rule, it can be expected that coal mining will start in right earnest in Meghalaya. Whether the rules laid out by the Union Ministry on the safety procedures and environmental concerns are followed is a different matter. In India rules are made to be broken. Every politicians in Meghalaya knows how important it is to appease the coal mine owners most of whom are politicians. The so-called small land owners in whose land coal is detected are not in a position to carry out the mining processes because that costs money. It’s an investment that a professional mine owner who has been extracting coal for the last 50 years is adept in. He would know how the profits accrue; what rules to break, who to pay for the clearances needed and every trick of the trade. The small land-owner is not in a position to go through this rigmarole.
Not much is mentioned by the expert committed from the Ministry of Mines and Coal and other institutions as to what are the environmental safeguards the mine owners and the state government should commit to. All this is left to speculations. Interestingly there are no voices to speak up on behalf of the environment which in the Khasi language is called Ka Mei Ramew meaning Mother Earth. It is interesting to note that there were loud protests against the public hearing held for Shree Cements in July 31, 2026. Apparently, the people of the area, mainly farmers were against limestone mining in the area and had not given their consent for mining to happen on their land. So committed was the government to allow the public hearing that the roads leading to the venue at Lum Syrman was even dug up so no vehicle could proceed beyond a point – not even an ambulance. Now that the protests have become very loud and vehement a second public hearing has been called on October 16 at the State Secretariat away from the mining district possibly to lend the hearing a semblance of credibility.
Now the difference between the two sets of mining is that whereas Shree Cements if it is allowed to start its cement manufacturing in Jaintia Hills should also be held to the most rigid environmental protection norms as is being applied to Lafarge Cements (now Lafarge-Holcims Cement). This French Company apart from its Corporate Social Responsibility also has to put in Rs 90 per ton of limestone extracted into a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). The money is then put to use within 50 sq km perimeter of the mining area, particularly for eco-restoration. Today Nongtrai, Shella, Nongwar, parts of Mawsynram etc., have some of the best sports infrastructure, resorts and community centres, including roads, footpaths, water supply and school buildings apart from better equipped health centres and aganwadi centres. Why are such facilities not seen in Jaintia Hills where so many cement companies are located? Where is the CSR from such companies being invested in? Is there transparency and accountability in how the CSR is used? These are questions that need to be put before those opposing the Shree Cements Company and they also need to answer as to why they are particularly against Shree Cements and not the other cement producers in the district? Is this a corporate war of sorts? These questions demand answers.