Mixed response to coal miners’ bandh

SHILLONG, AUG 6: The ‘dawn to dusk’ bandh called by coal miners  in the eleven districts of Meghalaya on Wednesday to protest against the state government’s failure to submit reports of the extracted coal deposits in different coal mines in the state to the National Green Tribunal (NGT)-which imposed blanket ban on coal mining- passed-off peacefully with no untoward incident.

Because of the failure of the state government to submit report to the NGT the coals that were already extracted could not be lifted.

The twelve hours bandh however evoke mixed response with people choosing to stay indoor as most of the business establishment and educational institutions remained closed in the entire state.

While government offices functioned normally, only some banks and financial institutions were closed despite of the government’s appeal to defy the shutdown.

In Shillong while shops and big business establishments in the major commercial areas like Iewduh and Khyndailad remained closed, small shops in the different localities operated their business as usual.

Similarly major markets in other parts of the state also remained closed.

Vehicular movements were sparse as  mostly government and some private including taxis were seen plying on the road. The state transports buses were also seen plying in different parts of the city.

East Khasi hills district SP M Kharkhrang informed that the bandh is peaceful and no incidents were reported.

“The overall percentage of attendance of office goers in the entire district stand at 70 per cent,” East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner Sanjay Goyal said while informing some of banks were open and rest remain closed.

Meanwhile, the bandh in the two coal rich deposit districts of Jaintia Hills region evoked good response especially from the business community as trade and commerce came to a grinding halt.

“Shops and other business establishments remained closed during the bandh hours,” East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner WR Lyngdoh said while informing that the bandh also affected office attendance as only 30 percent employees reported to work.

However in West Jaintia Hills district, the deputy commissioner PS Dkhar informed that the attendance of office goers reached 92 per cent. He ,however,  business establishments remained closed in his district except for a few.

The state government made adequate security arrangement to ensure that there was no untoward incident even as it urged the public to defy the bandh and directed the state government officials to attend offices.

As per statistic of the state and central government offices provided by officials from the home department, the attendance of office goers in other districts are West Khasi Hills – 80 per cent, South West Khasi Hills – 78 per cent, Ri Bhoi – 55 per cent, West Garo Hills – 34 per cent, South Garo Hills – 21 per cent, North Garo Hills – 80 per cent and South West Garo Hills with only 4 per cent.- By Our Reporter