The Longest Cave in the Subcontinent under Threat

By H H Mohrmen

Some pressure groups from Jaintia Hills recently stormed the Secretariat to protest against the proposed plan to establish a cement plant in the Nongkhlieh area. Later, some groups also protested at the office of the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills over the same issue. This time, however, the matter is far more significant because the area where the plant is proposed to be established is located at Nongkhlieh, which is also home to the longest cave in the Indian subcontinent. In 2010, we successfully led a protest against Lafarge’s plan to set up a cement plant at Nongkhlieh, but this time it seems that the government is hell bent on destroying the longest cave in the subcontinent.

Krem Umjasew at 197 metres, Krem Umthloo at 188 metres, Pielklieng Sielkan Pouk at 180 metres, Krem Riang at 179 metres, Krem Riang at 154 metres, Krem Wahser at 145 metres, and Krem Shyien Khlieh at 143 metres (Brooks, Simon, April 2014).

More than eleven bat species have been recorded across the state’s caves, including the Greater Large Eared Horseshoe Bat, the Pomona Leaf Nosed Bat, and the Eastern Bent Winged Bat. The region is also famous for unique, translucent, and nearly eye-less fish. The Neolissochilus pnar, discovered in Krem Um Ladaw and Krem Rynjang, is the world’s largest known cave fish. Other rare blind species such as the Khung Loach (Schistura larketensis) from Krem Khung and Schistura papulifera from the Synrang Pamiang cave system also thrive in these subterranean waters. Krem Liat Prah, Um im Labit and Rubon, located in the Shnongrim Ridge and measuring approximately 30.4 kilometres, are the longest natural caves in India. Their limestone formation, biodi-versity, including cave adapted fauna, and ongoing exploration reflect both geological gran-deur and ecological sensitivity. It must be reiterated that these caves lie in the Shnongrim Ridge and will be affected if cement companies are allowed to operate in the area.

How Sustainable Is This Development?

The government decided to allow this process to continue despite repeated protests from the people?

The Shnongrim Ridge should be declared a heritage site, and we should nominate it for UNESCO World Heritage status. If we can nominate the Living Root Bridges, why can we not do the same to protect the longest cave in the subcontinent?

The government and the Chief Minister in particular, often speak about sustainable development. But the question is: how sustainable can the environment remain once this cement plant begins operating? Has the government conducted any studies on the adverse im-pact that cement plants have on the environment of East Jaintia Hills district? Do the existing cement plants follow SOPs and legal requirements when it comes to mining and the use of explosives? Recently, a video went viral showing smoke emitting from certain cement plant units in the area. Has the government done anything to ensure that these companies adhere to rules and regulations?

World Environment Day is approaching, and students will likely be lectured by the Chief Minister on the importance of protecting the environment. He may even plant a tree on the occasion while, at the same time, allowing the destruction of the environment and, in particular, the caves and their fauna. Is it not time for the pub-lic, and students in particular, to ask the Chief Minister to stop sermonising and instead practise what he preaches?

Caves and the Nongkhlieh Ridge

On May 18, members of JNC and JSU, along with the villagers of Daistong, went to Shillong to protest against the proposed public hearing for the establishment of a cement plant in Elaka Nongkhlieh. Now why should the establish-ment of any industry in this area be barred by all means?

According to Wikipedia, India’s longest and deepest caves are predominantly con-centrated in the state of Me-ghalaya, which is home to all ten of the longest cave systems in the country. Most of these caves are found in East Jaintia Hills district.

An article published by the National Cave Research and Protection Organization in Ambience Science, India, Vol. 1(2): 59 to 60, in 2014, listed the longest and deepest glacier ice caves, the lists of the longest and deepest limestone caves in the Indian subconti-nent are as follows.

The longest cave in the Indian subcontinent, excluding glacier ice caves, is Krem Liat Prah, Um im Labit M and Ru-bon, located in the Shnongrim Ridge of East Jaintia Hills, Meghalaya, measuring 30,397 metres in length. It is followed by Krem Tyngheng Diengjem at 21,775 metres, Krem Kotsati Umlawan at 21,530 metres, Krem Umthloo Synrang La-bit at 18,181 metres, Krem Synrang Pamiang at 14,157 metres, Pielklieng Sielkan Pouk at 12,434 metres, Krem Shrieh at 8,862 metres, Krem Labit Kseh at 7,499 metres, Krem Khung at 7,349 metres, and Krem Mawkhyrdop at 7,194 metres.

The ten deepest caves in the subcontinent also begin with Krem Synrang Pamiang which is 317 metres deep, followed by Krem Kotsati at 215 metres, Krem Umjasew at 197 metres, Krem Umthloo at 188 metres, Pielklieng Sielkan Pouk at 180 metres, Pakaw Puk at 170 metres, Krem Shrieh at 169 metres, Krem Risang at 154 metres, Krem Wahser at 145 metres, and Krem Shyien Khlieh at 143 metres (Brooks, Simon, April 2014).

The Archaeological Heritage at Daistong

Apart from the cave, Dais-tong also has three huge dol-mens on the top of Daistong hill known as “Kjet u Sajar.” On one of these three flat stones, there is an imprint of a giant footprint believed to be that of the legendary U Sajar Niangli.

The Cave We Have Lost

Take the example of Krem Kotsati Umlawan in Lium-shnong village, measuring 21,530 metres. After cement plants were allowed to operate in the Narpuh area, it is now no longer safe even to enter the cave. With rampant limestone mining in the area, which also uses explosives, it may not be wrong to say that Krem Kotsati Umlawan is now becoming part of history.

Considering the rich heri-tage of this area, why is the government still hell bent on destroying it? It is an open secret that cement companies continue to expand, and only the wealth of the promoters of these plants grows many hundredfold. Yet why has the government decided to allow this process to continue despite repeated protests from the people?

Cement Plants and Economic Growth

Have the existing cement plants helped grow the econo-my of the state, or even that of East Jaintia Hills district? Do we even have data on these im-portant economic indicators? What we do have are reports in the press on the findings of commissions questioning where these cement plants obtain coal to operate despite the coal ban.

The general idea is that an area, a state, or even a country develops when it becomes industrialised. However, this does not appear to be true for Meghalaya or East Jaintia Hills. The cement plants in East Jaintia Hills include Star Cement Ltd., Star Cement Meghalaya Ltd., Meghala-ya Cements Ltd., Topcem, Dalmia Cement Bharat Ltd., Amrit Cement Ltd., Hills Ce-ment Company Ltd., Green Valley Industries Ltd., Gold-stone Cement Ltd., Meghalaya Technical and Engineers Pvt. Ltd., Jaintia Cements Ltd., Adhunik Cement Ltd., and JUD, at Thangskai. With more than ten cement plants, East Jaintia Hills is perhaps the most industrialised district in the state. Apart from cement plants, East Jaintia Hills district also has many coke plants, yet people continue to complain about unemployment. The question is how many local youths have been employed by these companies. More importantly, how have these cement plants contributed to the economy of the district or the state? Why do people still depend on coal and continue pleading with the government to allow the resumption of coal mining?

Prime Minister’s Fascination for the Caves

Even Prime Minister, Nar-endra Modi showed his interest in the cave systems of Megha-laya when he mentioned the caves in two of his Mann Ki Baat broadcasts to the nation. The first time was when he recognised the work of the Me-ghalaya Adventure Association and Bryan Kharpran Daly in particular, and the second time was when Neolissochilus pnar, the largest cave fish, was discovered in the region.

Cement Plants and Vested Interests

The President of JNC has raised a very important ques-tion: why is Conrad K. Sangma silent on this issue? This is important because the author-ity to allow industrial opera-tions in the state through the single window system lies directly under the control of the Chief Minister’s Office. Is there something beyond what meets the eye? The public has the right to know because the state’s resources are public resources.

When Will It Be Enough?

How many more cement plants do we want in the state? Does the Meghalaya Demo-cratic Alliance government want to make East Jaintia Hills the cement capital of the coun-try? The government should not permit the establishment of another cement plant anywhere unless it first presents a white paper showing the people of this state how much the state has benefited from these ce-ment plants and coke factories, and what impact they have had on the environment and society as a whole. The many protests organised by different groups have exposed one undeniable truth: the people have had enough. But is the government listening?