मेघालय के विकास में अवैध खनन की बाधकता

Fri, Dec 20, 2013 at 2:08 AM                                                                          Kanhaiya Jha

(Research Scholar)

Makhanlal Chaturvedi National Journalism and Communication University, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

+919958806745, (Delhi) +918962166336 (Bhopal)

Email : kanhaiya@journalist.com

            Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/kanhaiya.jha.5076 

 मेघालय 22 हज़ार वर्ग किलोमीटर में फैला हुआ एक छोटा राज्य है. सन 72 में दक्षिण असम के तीन मुख्य प्रान्तों खासी, गारो एवं जनिता को मिलाकर मेघालय को एक अलग राज्य का दर्ज़ा दिया गया. दक्षिण में मेघालय की सीमा बंगलादेश से लगती है. यहाँ की आबादी लगभग 30 लाख  है. इसकी राजधानी शिलांग को पूर्व का स्कॉटलैंड कहा जाता है. प्रदेश का एक-तिहाई भाग जंगलों से ढका हुआ है जो पक्षिओं, पेड़-पौधों, जानवरों की विविधता के लिए प्रसिद्ध हैं. यहाँ की लगभग 70 प्रतिशत आबादी खेती पर निर्भर रहती है. खाद्यानों गेंहूं, धान आदि के अतिरिक्त प्रदेश की जलवायु फल, फूल तथा औंषधीय पौधों के उत्पादन के लिए काफी उपयुक्त है.

परन्तु चूना-पत्थर, कोयला आदि अनेक खनिज पदार्थों के खनन से आम जनता तथा प्रदेश की प्राकृतिक संपदा बदहाल है. मेघालय का अवैध खनन उद्योग एक चतुराई से छिपाया हुआ रहस्य रहा है जिसके दुष्प्रभाव अब धीरे-धीरे सामने आ रहे हैं. मेघालय के खासी पहाड़ी क्षेत्र में फ्रांस की एक बड़ी सीमेंट बनाने वाली कंपनी लाफार्जे (Lafarge) अपने बंगलादेश स्थित सीमेंट कारखाने के लिए चूना-पत्थर का खनन करती है. कंपनी को सन 2000० में जंगलात अधिकारी की एक रिपोर्ट पर कि खासी पहाड़ी एक बेकार क्षेत्र है, पर्यावरण मंत्रालय से खनन की अनुमति मिल गयी थी. सन 2010 में उच्चतम न्यायालय के निर्देश पर कि खनन का काम जंगलात वाले क्षेत्र में हो रहा है पर्यावरण मंत्रालय ने कुछ बदलाव के साथ कंपनी को दोबारा खनन की अनुमति दे दी.

परन्तु पास के गाँव वालों की शिकायत पर उच्चतम न्यायालय ने मामले पर फिर गौर किया. लाफार्जे के खनन के साथ ही उस क्षेत्र में अवैध खनन ने भी जोर पकड़ लिया. ये लोग खनन से उत्पन्न कचरे को नदियों में फैंक देते हैं, जिससे क्षेत्र की अनेक नदियाँ मृत हो गयीं हैं. नदी का जल अम्लीय हो जाने से अनेक क्षेत्रों से जंगल भी साफ़ हो गए हैं. इसके बावजूद कुछ वर्ष पूर्व प्रदेश के जनिता पहाड़ी क्षेत्र में दो बड़े सीमेंट कारखाने लगाए गए हैं तथा कई और लगने को तैयार हैं.

मेघालय में कोयले का अवैध खनन भी बहुत होता है. प्रदेश के दक्षिण गारो पहाड़ी क्षेत्र को कोयले के खनन के लिए जंगल रहित कर दिया गया है. यहाँ का एक स्थानीय संगठन इन अवैध खानों को बंद करा देता है, और साथ ही प्रदेश सरकार पर अनदेखी का आरोप भी लगाता है. इस क्षेत्र की प्रायः सभी नदियाँ इस गतिविधि से प्रदूषित हो चुकी हैं.

देश में खनन गतिविधि को सुनियोजित प्रकार से चलाने के लिए सन 1957 का एक क़ानून भी है, जिसके अंतर्गत बिना पट्टे के खनन करने पर सज़ा का प्रावधान है. राज्य में खनन को नियंत्रित करने के लिए मेघालय खनन विकास प्राधिकरण भी है, जो बिना प्लान के खनन के लिए पट्टा जारी नहीं करता. इसके अलावा राज्य का अपना पर्यावरण मंत्रालय भी है. फिर क्षेत्र में गैर-सरकारी संस्थान (एनजीओ, NGO) भी समय-समय पर खनन से सम्बन्धित अवांछित गतिविधियों को प्रकाश में लाते रहते हैं. कुछ वर्ष पहले आयोजित ऐसे ही एक कार्यक्रम में राष्ट्रीय स्तर के एनजीओ के साथ-साथ स्थानीय एनजीओ समरक्षण ट्रस्ट आदि ने भी भाग लिया था. इसमें गारो विद्यार्थी परिषद् के प्रवक्ता ने कहा था कि "अवैध खनन से सरकार को भी रायल्टी प्राप्त होती है." उसने यह भी कहा था कि राष्ट्रीय बैंक भी इन प्रोजेक्टों को धन देते हैं. एक और स्थानीय संस्था के प्रवक्ता ने कहा था कि इन अवैध गतिविधियों में जन प्रतिनिधि शामिल हैं और इसका आम जनता से कोई लेना-देना नहीं है. इस पर एक सुझाव आया था कि राज्य की प्रांतीय परिषदों को सशक्त करने से प्रदेश के पर्यावरण को सुरक्षित किया जा सकेगा.

मेघालय में राज्य सरकारों का औसतन कार्यकाल 18 महीने से भी कम रहा है. पिछली कुछ सरकारें तो 6 महीने से भी कम चली हैं. इसकी तुलना में प्रदेश की तीन मुख्य जातियों खासी, गारो, तथा जनिता का अपना परम्परागत राजनीतिक तंत्र है जो पिछली कई शताब्दियों से गाँव के स्तर से लेकर राज्य स्तर तक सुरक्षित चला आ रहा है. केंद्र सरकार ने भी जातियों के आधार पर तीन स्वायत्त परिषदें बनायी, परंतू उचित अधिकार न देने से उनकी कोई उपयोगिता नहीं है. बंगलादेश से सीमा लगी होने के कारण प्रदेश में अवैध घुसपैठ एक बड़ी समस्या है, जो स्थानीय लोगों में असुरक्षा की भावना पैदा करती है.   

देश एवं राज्य में अनेक स्तरों पर चुनाव होते हैं जिनका उद्देश्य ही चुने हुए प्रतिनिधियों को क्षेत्र की सुरक्षा का भार सोंपना होता है. परंतू यदि वे ही स्वार्थवश अपने दायित्व को भूल जाएँ तो जनता स्वयं ही जाग्रत होती है. सामजिक चेतना के स्वयं जाग्रत होने में भटकाव आने से हिंसा, तोड़-फोड़, अलगाववाद जैसी राष्ट्र विरोधी गतिविधियों के बढने की आशंका हमेशा बनी रहती हैं. आज देश को नाभिकीय विधि से विद्युत् उत्पादन के लिए यूरेनियम चाहिए जिसका एक मात्र स्रोत मेघालय में है. परंतू स्थानीय विरोध के कारण पिछले दस वर्षों के प्रयास के बाद भी देश का यूरेनियम प्राधिकरण उसको प्राप्त नहीं कर पा रहा. 

Foundation Stone Function OF NIT, Meghalaya

12-October-2012 17:29 IST
Text of the Address of Shri Kapil Sibal at NIT
Following is the text of the address of Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of HRD and C&IT at The Foundation Stone Function of NIT, Meghalaya on 12th October, 2012; “Honourable Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Dr Mukul Sangma ji, Honourable Minister of Education, Prof R.C. Laloo ji, Distinguished Chairperson of the Board of Governors, Dr D.K.Basu ji, Additional Secretary from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Smt Amita Sharma ji, Distinguished Principal Secretary Education of Meghalaya, Shri ji, Distinguished Director of NIT, Meghalaya, Prof D.K Saikia ji, Distinguished faculty members, staff and students of NIT, members of the press and electronic media, my dear fellow countrymen, Ladies and Gentlemen and dear children. 

1. It is indeed a privilege and honour to be a witness as well as a participant to this momentous and landmark event of laying the foundation of the permanent campus of National Institute of Technology, Meghalaya. Moreover, we are in this famous place, Sohra, in Cherapunjee known worldwide for being the second highest rainfall location in the world. 

2. Friends, India has the world’s largest and youngest populations; around one-third of our population which in numbers translates to 400 million is in the age group of 0‐14 years. This means that the number of people in India needing primary and secondary education alone exceeds the entire population of all countries in the world with the exception of China. These students will seek higher education in India over the next decade, which illustrates the immense challenge that we face on the education front. 

3. Meghalaya rests amongst the clouds. Nature has endowed it with a beautiful environment rich in biodiversity and natural resources. Its pristine beauty is reflected in the life and culture of its people. It has for long been the centre of learning in the North East drawing upon the quest for education that is prevalent amongst its youth. It has been our endeavour to provide a path for the youth to empower themselves through quality education and add to the talent pool In India that is slowly capturing the attention of the world. The youth of Meghalaya have to be an essential component of the growth story of India in the coming decades. 

4.  By 2020, our country is expected to represent 17 percent of the world’s working-age population (of adults aged between 15-59 years) . It is estimated that in 2020 the average age in India will be 29 years compared to 37 years in China and USA, 45 years in Western Europe and 48 years in Japan. Thus, 30 per cent of the world’s new work force will be from India. Our economy has also to become globally competitive. This necessitates that we must continue to enhance our competitiveness. For that, we require support of a highly skilled workforce, innovation, technological upgrading and ultimately new technology development to continue the climb up the global technology ladder. 

5. Our talent pool has clearly demonstrated its prowess by creating a successful IT and services industry which is the envy of the world. While India’s outsourcing industry and technology workers have drawn the most attention, other skill pools at different stages of the skill continuum are also much in demand. Friends, as a result of the large reservoir of talented youth that is available in the country, around 1000 of the top global companies have established their R&D, technical and development centres in India, employing, I believe, over 200,000 scientists and engineers in almost all the knowledge sectors such as software, computers, microelectronics, automobiles, aerospace, telecommunications, biotechnology, medicare, pharmaceuticals, entertainment and others. High-tech companies employ young Indian innovators whose ideas are taking the world by storm. The recruits of these world-class centres are often fresh from NITs and other technical institutes of repute. This new found confidence of global majors in our youth has in turn given fillip to some of India’s best and talented young technocrats to become first generation technopreneurs, but their numbers are certainly less, far too small, for a nation of our size and capacity. 

6. In our quest towards attaining heights and global recognition on all fronts, we have to ensure that our talent pool in the knowledge arena lives up to the ‘Brand India’ equity that is now looked up globally with awe and respect. I am thus sanguine to recognize that the State needs additional number of schools, colleges and even professional educational institutions and we are doing our utmost to meet the aspirations of the state. The establishment of the NIT here is one small step towards the realization of these objectives; we shall follow up with several more. 

7. I must confess that I have seen the upsurge of excitement and expectations that have followed the inception of the NIT here. It is a mammoth task to meet such level of expectations and high hopes. I must congratulate Professor Saikia and his team for having initiated firm steps towards meeting of these expectations. We seek the eight new NITs being established in the North Eastern region to be manned by world class faculty to train our talented youth to become world class engineers, scientists, technologists, and equally importantly, entrepreneurs who can create wealth for the nation. We want these NITs to be engaged in research in the areas of engineering and applied sciences so as to be able to develop technologies that can compete with the rest of the world. We want these institutes to be engaged in dialogue with the local community and society at-large to understand their problems and devise innovative solutions as per the local, regional as well as national needs. We are accordingly empowering the eight NITs in establishing incubation centres to catalyse entrepreneurship among their students. 

8. The realization of these objectives will need right talents to man these institutes. Such manpower can be attracted only if we create appropriate academic and research environment in these institutes. The Govt. of India is ready to invest significantly in these institutes. But the help and cooperation from the State Government and the Local Society can play a very important role in shaping these institutions. I am very happy that the Meghalaya Govt., and the local populace of Sohra have been very positive and cooperative about setting-up this new NIT. We are thankful to the Govt. of Meghalaya, especially the Chief Minister, for the 200 acres of land given to the Institute. We have big plans for NIT Meghalaya. We must make this Institute amongst the best in the country showing a path for bright youth from the land of the hills to leave their mark in our country and for our country. I assure every possible support to the NIT from the Central Government to build such a world class institution. I wish all the success to the NIT and to the people of Meghalaya.” (PIB)

MV/VSB 

Shri Kapil Sibal at NIT

12-October-2012 17:29 IST
Text of the Address
Following is the text of the address of Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister of HRD and C&IT at The Foundation Stone Function of NIT, Meghalaya on 12th October, 2012: “Honourable Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Dr Mukul Sangma ji, Honourable Minister of Education, Prof R.C. Laloo ji, Distinguished Chairperson of the Board of Governors, Dr D.K.Basu ji, Additional Secretary from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Smt Amita Sharma ji, Distinguished Principal Secretary Education of Meghalaya, Shri ji, Distinguished Director of NIT, Meghalaya, Prof D.K Saikia ji, Distinguished faculty members, staff and students of NIT, members of the press and electronic media, my dear fellow countrymen, Ladies and Gentlemen and dear children. 

1. It is indeed a privilege and honour to be a witness as well as a participant to this momentous and landmark event of laying the foundation of the permanent campus of National Institute of Technology, Meghalaya. Moreover, we are in this famous place, Sohra, in Cherapunjee known worldwide for being the second highest rainfall location in the world. 

2. Friends, India has the world’s largest and youngest populations; around one-third of our population which in numbers translates to 400 million is in the age group of 0‐14 years. This means that the number of people in India needing primary and secondary education alone exceeds the entire population of all countries in the world with the exception of China. These students will seek higher education in India over the next decade, which illustrates the immense challenge that we face on the education front. 

3. Meghalaya rests amongst the clouds. Nature has endowed it with a beautiful environment rich in biodiversity and natural resources. Its pristine beauty is reflected in the life and culture of its people. It has for long been the centre of learning in the North East drawing upon the quest for education that is prevalent amongst its youth. It has been our endeavour to provide a path for the youth to empower themselves through quality education and add to the talent pool In India that is slowly capturing the attention of the world. The youth of Meghalaya have to be an essential component of the growth story of India in the coming decades. 

4.  By 2020, our country is expected to represent 17 percent of the world’s working-age population (of adults aged between 15-59 years) . It is estimated that in 2020 the average age in India will be 29 years compared to 37 years in China and USA, 45 years in Western Europe and 48 years in Japan. Thus, 30 per cent of the world’s new work force will be from India. Our economy has also to become globally competitive. This necessitates that we must continue to enhance our competitiveness. For that, we require support of a highly skilled workforce, innovation, technological upgrading and ultimately new technology development to continue the climb up the global technology ladder. 

5. Our talent pool has clearly demonstrated its prowess by creating a successful IT and services industry which is the envy of the world. While India’s outsourcing industry and technology workers have drawn the most attention, other skill pools at different stages of the skill continuum are also much in demand. Friends, as a result of the large reservoir of talented youth that is available in the country, around 1000 of the top global companies have established their R&D, technical and development centres in India, employing, I believe, over 200,000 scientists and engineers in almost all the knowledge sectors such as software, computers, microelectronics, automobiles, aerospace, telecommunications, biotechnology, medicare, pharmaceuticals, entertainment and others. High-tech companies employ young Indian innovators whose ideas are taking the world by storm. The recruits of these world-class centres are often fresh from NITs and other technical institutes of repute. This new found confidence of global majors in our youth has in turn given fillip to some of India’s best and talented young technocrats to become first generation technopreneurs, but their numbers are certainly less, far too small, for a nation of our size and capacity. 

6. In our quest towards attaining heights and global recognition on all fronts, we have to ensure that our talent pool in the knowledge arena lives up to the ‘Brand India’ equity that is now looked up globally with awe and respect. I am thus sanguine to recognize that the State needs additional number of schools, colleges and even professional educational institutions and we are doing our utmost to meet the aspirations of the state. The establishment of the NIT here is one small step towards the realization of these objectives; we shall follow up with several more. 

7. I must confess that I have seen the upsurge of excitement and expectations that have followed the inception of the NIT here. It is a mammoth task to meet such level of expectations and high hopes. I must congratulate Professor Saikia and his team for having initiated firm steps towards meeting of these expectations. We seek the eight new NITs being established in the North Eastern region to be manned by world class faculty to train our talented youth to become world class engineers, scientists, technologists, and equally importantly, entrepreneurs who can create wealth for the nation. We want these NITs to be engaged in research in the areas of engineering and applied sciences so as to be able to develop technologies that can compete with the rest of the world. We want these institutes to be engaged in dialogue with the local community and society at-large to understand their problems and devise innovative solutions as per the local, regional as well as national needs. We are accordingly empowering the eight NITs in establishing incubation centres to catalyse entrepreneurship among their students. 

8. The realization of these objectives will need right talents to man these institutes. Such manpower can be attracted only if we create appropriate academic and research environment in these institutes. The Govt. of India is ready to invest significantly in these institutes. But the help and cooperation from the State Government and the Local Society can play a very important role in shaping these institutions. I am very happy that the Meghalaya Govt., and the local populace of Sohra have been very positive and cooperative about setting-up this new NIT. We are thankful to the Govt. of Meghalaya, especially the Chief Minister, for the 200 acres of land given to the Institute. We have big plans for NIT Meghalaya. We must make this Institute amongst the best in the country showing a path for bright youth from the land of the hills to leave their mark in our country and for our country. I assure every possible support to the NIT from the Central Government to build such a world class institution. I wish all the success to the NIT and to the people of Meghalaya.” (PIB)

MV/VSB  Foundation Stone Function OF NIT, Meghalaya

Meghalaya: Earthquake of moderate intensity

No loss of life and damage to property 

New Delhi, Sep 7: A slight intensity earthquake jolted parts of Meghalaya last night. According to  Met officials the quake, which struck at 23:57 hours in West Khasi Hills of the state, was measured 4.2 on the Richter scale, they said. 
The earthquake having a magnitude of 5.0 on the Richter scale shook the region for more than 10 seconds at 2:55 pm with its epicentre being 35 km underneath the earth at Tezpur in Assam, officials at the Regional Seismological Centre here said.
There was no loss of life and damage to property. The tremor was felt in Guwahati, Shillong, Itanagar, Agartala, Aizawl and Kohima.