NGT committee recommends greater compensation for mining victims in Meghalaya

A committee appointed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has recommended additional compensation be given to the next of kin of coal miners, the committee has recommended this proposal to the NGT. This compensation is for those coal miners that were killed in three different mining tragedies in Meghalaya. Justice (retired) BP Katakey stated to a news agency that a decision to make the recommendation in relation to the payment of an additional amount in conjunction with the amount that has already released to the miners will be placed before the NGT. 

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NGT set to consider committee's recommendation on December 6

Justice (retd.) Katakey further stated that the committee will submit its report in November and the NGT will consider the recommendation by the committee on December 6. Previously, the Meghalaya government has compensated the victim’s family by releasing Rs. 1 lakh and via the Prime Minister Relief Fund, a further Rs. 2 lakh was sanctioned, Katakey added. Even though the compensation has been sanctioned by the Meghalaya government for the sum of Rs. 1 lakh to the next of kin of the coal miners as per the NGT directive, the government is yet to disburse the compensation, Katakey added, as the Deputy Commissioner has found it difficult to distribute the compensation since all the mining workers that lost their lives are from Assam. 

Justice (retd.) Katakey further added, the NGT has asked the Meghalaya Government to do the verification through the Deputy Commissioners of the district in Assams from where the deceased coal miners came from. This will ensure that the compensation will be handed to the right next of kin, Katakey concluded. Even after the NGT in April 2014 had imposed an interim ban on “rat-hole” mining the accidents pertaining to these coal mine incidents have been rampant across Meghalaya. 

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Three mining tragedies in which compensation is being issued

• Two miners were killed at Mooknor area in East Jaintia Hills district on January 6, 2019
• Sixteen miners were killed inside the 370-foot-deep illegal rat-hole coal mine at Khloo Ryngksan area on December 13, 2018
• 15 miners were trapped in a rat-hole coal mine on July 6, 2012, at Nengkol in Rongsa Awe region in South Garo Hills in 2012

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