AT HOLE MINING AND ITS ADVERSE EFFECT ON MEGHALAYAN ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Meghalaya, the ‘abode of clouds’ and often referred to as the‘Scotland of the East’. It is one of the seven sister States of North east India endowed with incredible natural beauty of Flora and Fauna and is richly blessed with mineral deposits including coal. It is said that from the very beginning man has always been looking up to his environment for his own requirements namely, food, clothing, shelter etc and take environment for granted because he believed that air, soil, water, plants and animals will always be available in the nature for his basic requirements. But, with the passage of time and advancement of science and technology coupled with rapid growth of population, man himself destroys the environment and the impact of such destructive act subsequently led to environmental changes. The Constitution of India clearly states that it is the duty of the State to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures. 1 A great American Judge emphasizing the imperative issue of environment said that he placed government above big business, individual liberty above Government and Environment above all.