Policy

SC Ruling Against Coal Mining ‘Historic Win’ for Indigenous People of Meghalaya

Indigenous people of Meghalaya must be protected from illegal mining and the pollution it causes, the Supreme Court ruled, providing a ‘historic’ victory to tribal groups fighting for better rights over land and natural resources. They have full rights over the land and any resources on it, and only they can grant permission for mining after the correct permits are obtained, the Supreme Court added.

The Meghalaya government had “entirely failed to stop illegal mining, which is the cause of degradation and pollution”, and must end illegal mining and rehabilitate the environment, it said in its ruling.

The heavily forested state of Meghalaya has substantial reserves of minerals such as coal, limestone and uranium. At its peak, the state produced coal worth $4 billion a year, or about a tenth of India’s total production.

Rat Hole Coal Mines in Meghalaya are prone to flooding                                                                                    Pic: Pragativaadi

On April 17, 2014 the National Green Tribunal had banned coal mining in the ecologically sensitive areas of Meghalaya after the Assam-based all Dimasa Student’s Union and Dima Hasao district committee filed a petition, stating the acidic discharge from unscientific coal mines in Meghalaya are polluting Kopili river downstream.

The Apex court also said that the allegations of the environmental degradation by illegal and unregulated coal mining were fully proved from the materials on record, including the report of experts, report of Meghalaya state pollution control board and the report of Katakey committee.

Illegal mining had made businessmen and corrupt officials wealthy, but “exacerbated socio-economic inequality, destroyed the environment, and devastated tribal communities,” said Colin Gonsalves, a lawyer for the indigenous groups that filed the legal challenge.

The Supreme Court judgment is “landmark and historic as it gives back the entire ownership to the people. This is the biggest victory,” he said in a statement.

To read the Court’s Ruling click here

I am Renew

Recent Posts

Odisha to launch ‘green hydrogen’ buses project with tripartite agreement

In a significant step towards introducing green hydrogen mobility in Odisha, three state-owned agencies have…

20 hours ago

Longroad Energy Signs Solar Power Agreement with Meta

Longroad Energy, a renewable energy developer, owner, and operator based in the U.S., has finalized…

21 hours ago

VOC Port to be green hydrogen-ammonia hub with an investment of Rs 41,860 crore

V O Chidambaranar (VOC) Port, a key seaport in Tamil Nadu, is set to transform…

2 days ago

Ashoka Buildcon, NHPC commit 14,400 cr for Bihar’s green hydrogen, RE

Leading construction engineering company Ashoka Buildcon and state-owned NHPC Ltd have committed a massive investment…

2 days ago

Avaada commits $12bn for Rajasthan’s green hydrogen, ammonia & other RE

Mumbai headquartered Avaada Group has announced an unprecedented investment of $12 billion in Rajasthan for…

2 days ago

ClimateTech Startup Fitsol raises $1 Million in Seed Funding from Transition VC

Fitsol, a pioneering decarbonisation platform designed for the manufacturing industry, has announced to have secured…

2 days ago