Burning Issue September 2010
SC dismisses MAA plea to save caves
From CK Nayak
Shillong Times 02-09-2010
NEW DELHI: In a major setback to the environment groups, the Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a PIL field by the Meghalaya Adventurers’ Association (MAA) for protection of the natural cave systems in the State against ongoing mining activities.
The apex court dismissed the petition on the ground that the State Government has already formed a committee for protection of the caves, Ranjan Mukherjee, the Meghalaya Counselor said. The committee was formed earlier with the Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) as its head, he told the court.
In an Interlocutory Application (IA) earlier the MAA said the “Cave Matter” is different from that of other cases relating to “de-forestation”, as caves involved not only forests, but also bio-diversity and other related subjects including “cave life”.
As per the PIL, the cement companies have manipulated all records to continue to exploit the limestone, the raw material for cement production. The case is coming up for hearing next Friday, MAA’s counsel and senior Supreme Court advocate R Venkataraman told The Shillong Times here on Wednesday.
“Caves are the unique creation of nature and integral to environment and human-animal-plant existence. Their destructions will result in un-assessable loss to the humanity and will certainly lead to a catastrophe, the implication of which would be immeasurable,” the petition had said.
Meanwhile, MAA president Brian Daly Khyriem refused to comment on the Supreme Court verdict saying that he would have to discuss the matter with his lawyer first.
It takes 15-20 million years to form a natural cave. Meghalaya is reported to have thousands of caves and most of which have remained unexplored and many of them are unique in nature.
The longest and deepest, perhaps the world’s largest, caves exist only in Meghalaya, the petitioner said adding their destruction would lead to irreparable damage not only to the State but also to the entire humanity.
PIL dismissal hailed
Meanwhile, the Khliehriat Subdivision Coal Miners’ and Welfare Association (KSDCMWA), which supported the government stand in favour of limestone mining, has welcomed the dismissal of the PIL of the Meghalaya Adventurers Association and allowing commercial activities in the area.
Talking to The Shillong Times after the verdict SL Khyriem, adviser of the association, said this would save livelihood of lakhs of poor miners and their family members. Lakhs of poor people depend on such mining activities and are also sensitive to their local environment, Khyriem said.
Exploration and utilization of natural mineral resources are done all over the world to sustain development, Khyriem said.
“Just in the name of environment one cannot stop the meagre earning of the local tribals,” he said.
Balios Swer, the secretary of the association also welcomed the apex court verdict. This ended a suspense going on since 2006, he said.
Need to balance preservation, progress: Governor
The Shillong Times 02-09-10
By Our Reporter
Shillong: Governor RS Mooshahary has stressed on the importance of maintaining a “balance” between progress and preservation.
“There is a need to adopt scientific methods of mining while extracting various minerals” Mooshahary said while inaugurating the 4th CMS Vatavaran – Environment and Wildlife Travelling Film Festival and Environment Forum – at the U Soso Tham auditorium on Wednesday.
He observed that the present way of mining is “absolutely hazardous” which would ultimately lead to degradation of the environment.
Mooshahary, however, linked the Naxalite movement with the gross exploitation of the environment and termed the Maoist struggle as a “mutiny in agony”.
“People felt deprived of their livelihood with the gross exploitation of their resources forcing them to wage war against the Indian government,” the Governor said.
Mooshahary also expressed deep regret over the failure to regenerate medicinal plants in the State in spite of having one of the best traditional healers.
He said, “Medicinal plants are of extreme importance. We therefore need to learn the art of preserving and regenerating these medicinal plants”.
Meanwhile, he said that Shillong occupies the 14th spot amongst the cleanest cities in the country.
“If we can learn a lesson or two from the people of Asia’s cleanest village Mawlynnong, we can definitely become the cleanest city,” he exhorted.
On the occasion, local environmentalists Sorendro Khongsit and Brian Kharpran, film makers Shilpi Sharma and Raphael Warjri were felicitated.
The film festival will feature over 30 award-winning environment and wildlife films.
