MON, FEBRUARY 18 (MExN): The Konyak Union (KU) will enforce a ban on coalmine extraction in Mon district till a systematic and safe method of extraction is practiced by the Government of Nagaland’s Department of Geology and Mining. The ban will come into effect from October 2014.
This was decided at the KU Advisory Board meeting held on February 16 at its Mon HQ. A press release from KU president S. Manlip Konyak and general secretary Y. Hosea Konyak noted that since 2008-09, “the Geology & Mining Department had issued random Coal-Mining License to many firms/individuals like TCP (Tiru Coalmine Project) & NCP (Nagaland Coalmine Project) for extraction of Coal from Mon District like Tiru, Naganimora and Tizit.”
The KU brought to the attention of the Department that none of the coalmine contractors/firms had “re-fill-up or re-plant” in the excavated areas, as agreed in the MoU, and now all the coalmine areas are posing a danger to living beings, apart from having an environmental impact. In this, the KU has questioned if the said Department is authorized only to collect or accept “Departmental tax (royalties) without estimating safety measures for human lives and its surrounding.”
The Konyak apex body claimed that the Department of Geology and Mining should accept the responsibility of “all failures for not undertaking any safety measures in the Coalmine areas,” asking for these to be put in place immediately.
The KU also called upon the head of the Department, the Commissioner & Secretary (Geology & Mining), Commissioner & Secretary (Forest & Environment), and District Administration Mon HQ, to make spot verifications on these claims. Subsequently, the KU urged the Department not to renew or issue any more Coalmine Licenses under Mon District. It has advised respective Village Councils, individuals and contractors concerned to strictly adhere to the notifications.
