Shillong: The Centre for Environment Protection and Rural Development (CEPRD) has strongly condemned the ongoing “scientific mining” operations in Paromgre, under Chokpot in South Garo Hills, branding them as environmentally destructive, legally unsound, and a betrayal of constitutional duty by the Meghalaya government.In a statement released this week, CEPRD accused the state authorities of authorizing mining activities in one of Meghalaya’s most ecologically fragile zones, warning that the so-called “scientific” methods are, in reality, accelerating large-scale environmental degradation. The organization alleged that the operations threaten the Nokrek Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO-recognized heritage site known for its rich biodiversity and critical wildlife habitats.
“The forests around Paromgre are home to endangered species such as the Hoolock Gibbon and the Himalayan Black Bear. Carrying out mining without proper environmental clearance is a blatant violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980,” the statement said.CEPRD further asserted that the project violates multiple environmental regulations, including the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and the EIA Notification, 2006, which mandate prior environmental assessments and public consultations. “No transparent or consultative process has taken place. The complete exclusion of local voices reflects an attempt to bypass procedural justice,” it added.The organization also warned that Paromgre’s rivers—Rompa, Rongdik, Khakiza, and Rongma—are already suffering from siltation and contamination caused by reckless excavation. Continued mining, it cautioned, could irreversibly damage water systems, livelihoods, and food security in Chokpot and neighboring areas.
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CEPRD raised alarms about possible illegal uranium exploration under the guise of coal mining, which, if true, would breach the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and pose severe radiological risks to nearby communities.Invoking Articles 21, 48A, and 51A(g) of the Constitution, CEPRD accused the government of violating citizens’ fundamental right to a clean environment and its own duty to protect forests and wildlife. The group demanded an immediate halt to all mining activities, a judicially monitored probe, and public disclosure of all related documents.“Paromgre’s destruction cannot be called development—it is ecological suicide,” CEPRD declared, urging the Meghalaya government to prioritize preservation over profit.
