Dimapur, Nov 6 (MExN): Nokzang and Loakkon villages today came out in support of the ‘Nagaland Coal Policy 2006’ and the ‘Nagaland Coal Mining Rules 2006’ and declared to give full co-operation to the Department of Geology and Mining for the smooth implementation of the rules and policy pertaining to coal extraction in the state.
A press release issued jointly by the Angh of Nokzang and Loakkon Villages under Tizit sub-division in Mon district, Chuiwang Angh and the Chairman of the Village Council of Nokzang Village, Taheni Konyak stated that rampant extraction of coal was being undertaken in the foothill of the areas by private parties since many years with the help of the DFOs/Range Officers of the Forest department who issued them the so-called ‘Transport Challan’ and added that the coal mines in the past years were never regulated and monitored for systematic mining.
The release pointed out that the rampant and unplanned mining activities have led to many types of accidents, health hazards, ecological and environmental degradation besides depletion of coal reserves and incurring of huge losses to the state revenue. Not only that, the operators, the miners and the mines owners have also incurred huge losses in the form of taxes being paid at the Forest Check gates in Assam as well as in Nagaland, stated the release.
Expressing happiness at the coming into force of the Nagaland Coal Policy, 2006 and the Nagaland Coal Mining Rules, 2006, the release stated that the people are hopeful that the unmethodical mining will be put to stop particularly in Tizit areas and that scientific methods would be introduced in the mining activities for economical and beneficial utilization of the available coal reserves for the safety of the mines and generation of more state revenue.
The release further stated that the two villages of Nokzang and Laokkon under Tizit sub-division in Mon district have, in the best interest of public service, unanimously resolved to follow the guidelines given by the Department of Geology and Mining and resolved to welcome the department and render their full cooperation in the smooth implementation of the Coal Policy and the Coal Mining Rules of the state government.
