Shillong, October 3: Claiming that more than 70% to 80% of people living in Meghalaya’s coal-belt areas are below the poverty line, with many families in Jaintia Hills living in thatched houses or under plastic tarpaulins and being forced to open umbrellas inside their homes during monsoon hailstorms to keep out the rain, former Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) Chief Executive Member and Jowai South MDC Moonlight Pariat on Saturday linked the lifting of the ban on coal mining with the BJP’s potential expansion in Meghalaya, particularly in the coal-rich Jaintia Hills region. Pariat said lifting the ban could revive livelihoods and local economic activity while making coal mining a significant political issue ahead of the 2028 Assembly election.
One of the longest-serving members of the JHADC, with 27 years in the district council, Pariat joined the BJP on Saturday and said the concerns of communities dependent on the coal economy needed to be taken up with the Centre. He said the decline in coal-related activity had affected employment, markets and household incomes across parts of Jaintia Hills.
“Lifting ban of coal is important, in 2028 after Lifting ban on coal mining BJP will sweep in Meghalaya,” he said.
Recalling his visits across Jaintia Hills after the ban, Pariat said he had witnessed the difficult living conditions of people dependent on the coal economy. “There is still chance for Meghalaya to lift ban on coal mining. After the ban I have been to every books and corner of the Jaintia Hills, I have seen the condition in which these people lives. They live in a thatch houses, some are even covered with plastic tarpaulin and during monsoon hailstorm hit their houses. They have to open their umbrellas inside their house this is how people lives in Jaintia Hills…….I feel peety for them, nobody cares for them . Only few coal barron enjoys luxury lives . 75 percent to 80 percent of the people are still below the poverty line,” the MDC said.
He said greater efforts were needed to apprise the Centre of the situation in the State. “No body has apprise the problem to the centre leaders, it is not tough job.”
Pariat said the absence of employment opportunities and the decline in market activity had compounded the economic difficulties in coal-dependent areas. “People survives through coal, there is no job, the market has gone down and I am scared that recession could step in Meghalaya in coming days as people in large number lives in very poor conditions.”
