Coal miners and dealers from Meghalaya’s Jaintia hills on Monday lambasted the state government for allegedly refusing to help local people following the coal mining ban since 2014.

In a statement, Jaintia Coal Miners and Dealers Association president Balios Swer said the state government has not done anything to help affected miners ever since the ban was imposed by the National Green Tribunal in 2014.

“Employment generation is nil, food and job security is nil in Meghalaya. So, people are left with no other choice but to struggle, live and sacrifice their lives to earn bread and butter for their children,” Swer said.

He also pointed out that it was not the fault of displaced coal miners if they work in the mines for food. “It is the fault of the government and other authorities as they have failed to take care of the once the sole bread earners of the state. Jaintia hills, which is rich in coal, has fed the whole state for generations. But when trouble haunts, the state is hiding and never came forward to help the affected people,” Swer said.

For the 25th day, search operations to reach 15 miners trapped in a coal mine at Ksan near the Lytein river under Saipung police station continued. On Monday, Coal India Limited started pumping water out from an old shaft around 3.30pm The Telegraph picture

He also said the association condemns the incidents at Ksan and Jalyiah in East Jaintia Hills. While 15 miners have been trapped since December 13 last year in a coal mine at Ksan, two bodies were recovered on Sunday from a coal mine at Jalyiah. The duo were suspected of trying to extract coal when an accident occurred.

“These incidents are unfortunate and we condemn the mine owners for sending labourers to work during the ban and exposed them to inexplicable risks. The law should prevail and such people should not be spared for misusing the innocent mine workers for their greed,” he said.

The association will also hold a public rally on Wednesday near Lad Rymbai in East Jaintia Hills where various issues will be discussed.

Search operations

For the 25th day, search operations to reach 15 miners trapped in a coal mine at Ksan near the Lytein river under Saipung police station continued. On Monday, Coal India Limited started pumping water out from an old shaft around 3.30pm.

Till the filing of this report, approximately 2,26,800 litres of water has been pumped, official spokesperson R. Susngi said from Ksan.