Project Description:
The project aims to address the issue of private illegal coal & limestone mining in South Garo Hills. The areas like Nongalbibra and Gongrot in Garo Hills are witnessing social disorder (in terms of ethnic profile, crime, school dropouts, alcohol and drug abuse, prostitution) as well as adverse environmental impact due to rampant coal mining. The Balpakram Baghmara Landscape (BBL) situated in the Garo Hills is part of the Indo Malayan Biodiversity Hotspot and harbours a range of endangered species such as the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus), Tiger (Panthera tigris), Gaur (Bos gaurus), Serow (Naemorhedus sumatraensis), Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock), and Capped Langur (Trachypithecus pileatus) and is a crucial safe haven for wildlife. The unplanned, haphazard and illegal private coal mining in South Garo Hills has threatened the biodiversity of BBL. Thus, the project focuses on creating public awareness on the effects of illegal private coal mining and advocates for the formulation of a State mining policy in Meghlaya.
The objectives of the project are- to build and enhance awareness among the community and community leaders on the adverse social and environmental impacts of illegal mining and to discourage this practice of illegal private mining while working towards safeguarding ecology, natural heritage and the social fabric in Balpakram Baghmara Landscape of the South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.
The project activities include - a poster campaign on social and environmental impacts of mining across Balpakram Baghmara Landscape (BBL) , education awareness on the need and importance of conservation at public places like markets, churches, schools and youth clubs etc, capacity building of Nokmas , clan members and GSU members and arranging exposure visit for the Nokmas to coal mining areas of Jaintia and East Khasi Hills.
The intervention area spread across Balpakram Baghmara Landscape (BBL), consists of Balpakram National Park complex (~600 km2 ) with Siju wildlife Sanctuary (226 km2), Baghmara Reserve Forest (45 km2) and community owned land (locally known as Aking land). The project duration is of 1 year.
In the past 10 months, Mr. Marak with the help of GSU and Samrakshan Trust’s Meghalaya Field office has been able to counter private illegal mining across BBL. Mr. Marak along with a coalition of 5 other NGOs (Siju Youth Socio-Cultural Organization, Southern Youth & Cultural Organization, Siju Eco-tourism and Conservation Society, Tura Govt. College Students’ Union, Youth Development and Vigilance Committee.) have led the anti-mining movement and has been involved in filing litigations. Their efforts led to the temporary halting of mining activities at one of the sites (Gongrot) .
This coalition has also filed an Interlocutory Application (IA) in the Supreme Court to put a stop to all mining activities in forest areas in the Gongrot Aking. (Detailed press release of the hearing attached).
Prosper Marak’s efforts at raising awareness with Nokmas and clan members on the ill effects of illegal coal mining in Moheskola and Rangtangsora Akings has helped counter private illegal mining in Akings of Garo Hills, Meghalaya.
