Jaintia Hills coal mining ban impacts local livelihoods

Former Rajya Sabha MP Wanweiroy Kharlukhi has expressed support for reviving coal mining in Meghalaya’s Jaintia Hills, characterizing the current ban as a violation of the people's right to earn a livelihood. Kharlukhi, who previously raised the issue in Parliament, noted that the mining industry is central to the region's economy.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has offered assurances to resolve the mining issue—a move that recently influenced the defection of eight United Democratic Party (UDP) MLAs to the BJP—Kharlukhi remains skeptical. He pointed out that similar promises were made in 2023 without success. He further emphasized that resolving the matter requires navigating legal hurdles involving the National Green Tribunal (NGT), suggesting that political assurances alone may not be sufficient to overcome judicial restrictions.