Anti-mining forum to hold awareness drive

From Our Correspondent
TURA: The Garo Hills Anti-Mining Forum recently held a meeting at Dalu wherein it was agreed upon to undertake a major awareness drive after the monsoon season in various coal mining affected areas. Focus would be made to highlight the serious negative impact of unscientific coal mining which threatens the environment, health and social life of the people.

The forum has also renamed itself as the Garo Hills Anti-Mining and Conservation Forum with the objective to conserve the natural heritage of the region.

The forum is also appointing a legal adviser and has set up a monitoring committee to oversee the fresh coal and limestone mining in the Garo Hills. The members of the monitoring committee are Ardindon Ch Momin of TGCSU as chief monitoring secretary with Parpen D Marak of FAF monitoring secretary for Rongara block, Greneth M Sangma (GSU) for Baghmara block and Sengmen N Sangma (GSU) for Gasuapara block.

To spread the message of conservation to all sections of society the forum is coming out with its very own logo and motto along with a T-shirt in light green color that shall have a conservation message on it.

Movement against illegal private mining in Meghalya intensifies

Friends, you will recall the historic battle being fought by local communities and NGOs of Meghalaya, particularly the Garo Hills to protect their rich natural heritage and wildlife from illegal private mining for coal and limestone as well as exploratory drilling for uranium by the Department of Atomic Energy. Samrakshan has catalysed and supported this movement.

Recent direct action against existing illegal mines (in Rangtangsora Aking) and road construction in order to facilitate new mines (in Rongsu Again Aking) has met with success. The platform set up for this battle - the Chitmang Hills Anti Mining Forum has now expanded to form the Garo Hills anti Mining Forum. Additional groups have joined the forum and have formulated plans to expand its anti mining activities.

News reports on this are placed below.

Simultaneously we are also working on making a strong case to the state government and the union coal ministry to regulate rampant private mining in the state. We hope to have progress on this soon.

We have also set up a website to disseminate information about the battle against illegal private mining in Meghalaya http://meghalayamining.wordpress.com/

We look forward to your support, feedback and any questions that you may have.

Team Samrakshan

Written by the Editor
GHAMF consolidates stand on illegal mining

Our Bureau
Shillong, June. 21: At a meeting held in Tura on Saturday, GHAMF members resolved to take the fight against illegal mining to a new level. The meeting stressed on the importance of conservation and management of natural resources in a sustainable manner as compared to the 'savage method of depleting our resources' as in the case of coal.

At the meeting, members made saving the Siju Wildlife Sanctuary their top priority which is already under immense human pressure and is threatened by illegal private mining.

Meghalaya's most celebrated cave, Siju, is under direct threat from mushrooming illegal coal mines, the GHAMF sadi. Pieces of coal can already be found at the entrance of the cave carried by the stream flowing through it. This is a sign that the cave system has already been disturbed as loose pieces of coal are constantly making their way into the cave, it said.

The GHAMF recently successfully stopped coal mining activity in Gongrot Akhing, Rangtangsora Akhing and Rongsu Akhing after taking direct ground action against those responsible by seizing bulldozers and dismantling coal mining facilities. Attempts to reopen or start new mines in the areas will be stopped at any cost, it said.

Members have decided to keep constant vigil for new mining sites especially around the periphery of the Balpakram National Park, wildlife sanctuaries and forest areas.

Ginseng Sangma, GHAMF general secretary, gave a presentation on the intricate relationship and delicate balance the natural world stands on. He stressed on the importance of maintaining this balance as man made changes lead to catastrophic results.

Sangma pointed out that the primitive method of coal mining in the state has poisoned rivers and depleted forest cover.

The meeting was also attended by church leaders from Tura.

Move to protect heritage Siju caves

From Our Correspondent
TURA: The eleven eco-protection groups and student organisations under the banner of the Garo Hills Anti-Mining Forum (GHAMF) has resolved to take the fight against illegal mining to a new level. The meeting stressed on the importance of conservation and management of natural resources in a sustainable manner as compared to the savage method of depleting our resources as in the case of coal.

At the meeting, held here on Saturday, members have made saving the Siju Wildlife Sanctuary their top priority since it is already under immense human pressure and threatened by illegal mining.

The State's most celebrated cave "Siju" is under direct threat from mushrooming illegal coal mines. Pieces of coal can already be found at the entrance of the cave carried by the stream flowing through the cave. This is a sign that the cave system has already been disturbed as loose pieces of coal are constantly making their way into the cave.

The GHAMF recently had successfully stopped coal mining activity in Gongrot Akhing, Rangtangsora Akhing and Rongsu Akhing of South Garo Hills district which forms part of the Balpakram National Park after taking direct ground action against the perpetrators by seizing bulldozers and dismantling coal mining facilities.

Any attempt to reopen or start new mines in these areas has been prevented by the GHAMF members who have decided to keep a constant vigil of new mining sites especially around the periphery of the Balpakram National Park and wildlife sanctuaries and forest areas.

Written by The Northeast Today

Garo Hills Anti-Mining Forum, GHAMF Members Consolidate Stand on Illegal Mining

The 11 present organizations banding under the GHAMF at a meeting held in Tura on Saturday resolved to take the fight against illegal mining to a new level. The meeting stressed on the importance of conservation and management of natural resources in a sustainable manner as compared to the savage method of depleting our resources as in the case of coal. At the meeting members have made saving the Siju Wildlife Sanctuary their top priority which is already under immense human pressure and threaten by illegal private mining. Meghalaya's most celebrated cave Siju is under direct threat from mushrooming illegal coal mines. Pieces of coal can already be found at the entrance of the cave carried by the stream flowing through the cave. This is a sign that the cave system has already been disturbed as loose pieces of coal are constantly making their way into the cave.
The GHAMF recently have successfully stopped coal mining activity in Gongrot Akhing, Rangtangsora Akhing and Rongsu Akhing after taking direct ground action against the perpetrators by seizing bulldozers and dismantling coal mining facilities. Any attempts to reopen or start new mines in these areas will be stopped at any cost by the GHAMF. Members of the GHAMF have decided to keep a constant vigil for new mining sites especially around the periphery of the Balpakram National Park and wildlife sanctuaries and forest areas.
Ginseng Sangma, General Secretary, GHAMF gave a presentation on the web of life which elaborate on the intricate relationship and delicate balance the natural world stands on. He stressed on the importance of maintaining this balance as man made changes leads to catastrophic results. Sangma pointed out that the primitive method of coal mining in the state has poisoned our rivers and depleted our forest cover.
The meeting was also attended by church leaders from Tura who feel that conservation and protecting the environment is the need of the hour.

Illegal mining

By Our Reporter
Tura: 11 organisations under the GHAMF at a meeting held in Tura on Saturday resolved to take the fight against illegal mining to a new level.

The meeting stressed on the importance of conservation and management of natural resources in a sustainable manner as compared to the savage method of depleting resources as in the case of coal.