SC directs Centre,Meghalaya to suspend mining activities

Shillong, Jul 27 (UNI) The Supreme Court has directed the Centre and Meghalaya government to immediately suspend all mining activities, besides work in cement and all other factories endangering the Cave systems built over a period of 40 to 45 million years in the state.

This directive came after the Meghalaya Adventurers' Association (MAA) filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the rampant quarrying of limestone and wanton destruction of forest by cement factories in around Krem Kotsati cave systems located in Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya.

The Supreme Court admitted the petition on July 24.

MAA prayed for issuance of a writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to take all steps in terms of ancient monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act 1958 to protect and preserve each cave system in India.

In this regard, the Court has sought the views of Principal Secretary to Prime Minister's Office, the Secretary to Ministry of Environment&Forest, the Chairman of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Chief Secretary, government of Meghalaya and the Chairman of Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) within four weeks time.

Urging the Supreme Court to direct the Union and the State governments for suspension of quarrying of limestone around Asia's second longest cave systems measuring about 22.2 km, MAA said the cave system is under threat of being destroyed by such extraction.

''Indiscriminate lime stone mining using crude methods like dynamite and explosives by cement companies has destroyed most of the cave systems in the state,'' MAA General Secretary Brian Daly Kharpran told reporters here today.

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