Tura, Oct 24: As many as six student and social organizations from Garo Hills have raised strong objections to proposed mining for limestone in the Chokpot region of Asakgre Emandurabanda citing threat to its ecology and alleged that a team, reportedly claiming to be from the centre, was already on the ground drilling and excavating for minerals.
Members from the Garo organizations, namely Garo Students’ Union (GSU), Chokpot Area Vigilance Committee (CAVC), A·chik Youth Welfare Organisation (AYWO), A·chik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM), Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP), and Garo Land State Movement Committee (GSMC) arrived at the drilling site today to question the excavation team and inspect the site.
“We received verbal complaints from Asakgre villagers that limestone extraction activities were taking place without any proper documentation or permission. We met the Nokma (village headman) of Asakgre Emandurabanda today (Oct 23), who clarified that he had granted permission solely for survey purposes and not for drilling, excavation or mining of any kind. But a visit to the drilling site revealed excavation and drilling was already underway and when we questioned them none of the workers could produce any valid document of authorization,” alleged the Garo organizations.
The team deployed on the ground reportedly claimed the operation was being conducted under the authority of the central government, alleged the Garo groups.
“Chokpot and the entire South Garo Hills region falls under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution and any mining or extraction activity, public or private, must obtain a no-objection certificate from the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council, along with additional permission from the Civil Sub-Division office and the Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills district. None of these have been met by the group engaged in the illegal extraction,” states the Garo organizations.
Calling upon the state authorities to immediately halt the operations, the conglomerate of organizations have warned of protests in the coming days, unless swift action is taken to halt the operation and take the perpetrators to task.
This latest case of mining comes close on the heels of another controversy surrounding proposed coal mining in Pharomgre village of Chokpot which is close to some of the most scenic and tourist spots of the region, including the famous Wari Chora tourism site that is visited by thousands of tourists, national and international, during peak season. Villagers and Garo organizations have opposed the proposed coal mining at Pharomgre area citing environmental damage to the area.
