DISTRICT SURVEY REPORT FOR RIVER SAND MINING IN EAST JAINTIA HILLS DISTRICT Prepared in accordance with para 7(iii) (a) of S.O.141 (E) dated 15th January, 2016 as amended on S.O.3611(E) dated 25th July,2018 of MoEFCC Notificatation Compiled by : Sd /- Nodal Officer, District Survey Report, East Jaintia Hills District. Chairman, Member Secretary, Sd/ - Sd/ - District Level Task Force, District Level Task Force, District Survey Report, District Survey Report, East Jaintia Hills District. East Jaintia Hills District. NOTE : This Report has been prepared from the latest data submitted by the concerned Offices/ Departments. Although utmost care has been taken during typing and printing still there may be some minor mistakes for which the Nodal Officer for District Survey Report, East Jaintia Hills cannot be held responsible. Since Field Survey Works has been done during the rainy season (i.e. high flood period) wherein major portion of the river banks remains submerged hence only the prominent sand deposits that were or could be detected were currently taken for calculation of River Sand potential of the District (mentioned as per Field Survey in this DSR). The same data however could be updated after field verification during the dry season wherein clear picture of the sand bars could be seen for more accuracy. Incase of some rivers e.g. Kupli River which is not at all accessible during the rainy season identification and stretches of the river sand deposits were extracted from NESAC, Umiam, Meghalaya. Isolated River Sand deposits below 200m stretch seen were negligible and hence not included in the calculation. 1. INTRODUCTION : Source : Deputy Commissioner’s Office,Khliehriat About District: East Jaintia Hills District is one of the 11 (eleven) districts of the state of Meghalaya with the bifurcation of the erstwhile Jaintia Hills District into East and West Jaintia Hills District, East Jaintia Hills District came into existence on 31st July 2012 with its Head Quarter at Khliehriat. East Jaintia Hills is the home of one of the major tribes of the state of Meghalaya popularly known as the ‘Jaintias’ or the ‘Pnars’ and sub tribes like the ‘Wars’ and the ‘Biates’. It comprises all the village of two community and rural development blocks viz. Saipung community & Rural Development Block and Khliehriat Community & Rural Development Block with the following boundaries: North – West Jaintia Hills District and Assam. South – Bangladesh and Assam. East – Assam. West – West Jaintia Hills District. Now, therefore the Governor of Meghalaya is please to order that the Khliehriat Civil Sub- Division be upgraded into a district to be named as “East Jaintia Hills District” with headquarter at Khliehriat. History: East Jaintia Hills District was upgraded from the erstwhile Khliehriat Civil Sub- Division. Prior to the establishment of a Sub-Division, there was an Administrative Unit set up in August 14, 1976 with an objective to bring administration closer to the people at the grass- root level. After five and a half year, the unit was upgraded into a full-fledged Civil Sub-Division in May 27, 1982 with the Sub-Divisional Officer as an administrative head and then upgraded to a District on 31st July 2012 when Meghalaya Government took ample steps to create four more districts in 2012. Geographical Location, Area and Climatic Condition: East Jaintia Hills District is located at the eastern most part of Meghalaya. It covers an area of 2040 sq. Kms. It stands at a altitude of 1200 meters above sea level and is located between 250.17~30: 250.22~40 Latitude and 920.15~20: 920.23~30 Longitude. It is bounded by Bangladesh in the South, North Cachar Hills District in the East and West Jaintia Hills District in the North and West. Its distance from the state capital is 97 Kms at the National Highway 44 Connecting Shillong and the eastern part of Assam pass through the district. Like the other parts of the state, East Jaintia Hills District has a very pleasant climate. The area experiences a tropical monsoon climate. The rainy season occur from mid May to September while the months of October and November are a bit cold. In the winter months the climate is pretty cold and almost similar to that of the state capital. In general, the climate of the area is of a moderate type. Administrative Units: Deputy Commissioner’s Office The Deputy Commissioner (DC) is the head of the District administration and is the executive head as well as judicial head of the district. The DC is aided by a number of officers like Additional Deputy Commissioner, Sub-Divisional Officers of Civil Sub-Divisions and Extra Assistant Commissioners to assist him in different type of activities. As executive head the DC plays an important role in coordinating with all developmental heads of the district for all round developmental activities under various programmes such as M.P. schemes (MPLAD), MLA’s scheme, Border area development funds, Employment assurance schemes and so on. The District Planning Officer is assigned to see, formulate and release funds for the development schemes. There also exists the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) and the DC is the chairman of the said agency. The Project Director is the functional head of the agency. All schemes of rural development are implemented by Block Development Officers and the necessary funds are routed through this agency. Designation Name Phone Number Deputy Commissioner Shri. Federick M. Dopth, IAS 03655-220226 Shri. Sainpyniar S. Syiemlieh, Additional Deputy Commissioner - MCS Block Development Officer, Shri. Sanborn Marwein, MCS. - Wapung C&RD Block Block Development Officer, Shri. Sanborn Marwein, MCS. - Saipung C&RD Block Address: Office of the Deputy Commissioner East Jaintia Hills District Khliehriat – 793 200 Meghalaya Phone: + 91 3658220226 E-mail: khliehriat @gov.in Who’s Who: Name Designation Email Address Phone Office of The Deputy Commissioner, Shri. Federick M. Deputy [email protected] East Jaintia Hills 03655230713 Dopth, IAS Commissioner District, Khliehriat- 793 200 Office of The Deputy Shri. Sainpyniar Commissioner, Addl. Deputy S. Syiemlieh, [email protected] East Jaintia Hills 03655230740 Commissioner MCS District, Khliehriat- 793 200 Office of The Deputy Commissioner, Smti. Delis M. Addl. Deputy [email protected] East Jaintia Hills 03655230713 Suja, MCS Commissioner District, Khliehriat- 793 200 Office of The Deputy Commissioner, Shri. Sanborn Extra Assistant [email protected] East Jaintia Hills 03655230713 Marwein, MCS Commissioner District, Khliehriat- 793 200 Block Administration: Khliehriat C&RD Block: Khliehriat Development Block was established in the year 1956. At present it covers an area of 1280 Sq Km with 99 villages as per 2011 census. Different Rural Development Projects are being implemented through this Block under different schemes both Central and State sponsored for the Development of this area. Address: Office of The Block Development Officer, Khliehriat C&RD Block, Khliehriat – 793 200, East Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya, Phone: + 91 3655 220226 Saipung C&RD Block: The office of the Block Development Officer, Saipung was carved out of the Khliehriat C&RD Block in April, 06, 2001 with a view to further development in the north-eastern part of the District. The Saipung C&RD Block covers an area of 835 sq. Kms. It consists of 107 villages as per 2011 census. Address: Office of The Block Development Officer, Saipung C&RD Block, Saipung – 793 200, East Jaintia Hills District, Meghalaya, Phone: + 91 3655 220226 Literacy rate of the District: The District literacy rate as per 2011 census stands at 53%. Significance and importance of the District: Jaintia Hills District is rich in mineral resources like coal and limestone. It has a total deposit of 37.25 million tonnes of coal and 1054 million tonnes of limestone. Besides these two main natural resources, the area is also rich in forest produce. In term of agriculture, people cultivate rice as the major crop. Besides rice they also cultivate bettle-nut (kwai) and bettle-leaves (pathi/tympew), potato, sweet potato, maize, turmeric, ginger, black pepper, etc. Most of the farmers in the area are depending on seasonal rainfall as only a few portion of the land are covered under irrigational system. Historical importance : The total population of the District is 1,22,436 inhabiting in 206 villages. The District literacy rate as per 2011 census stands at 53%. Majority of the inhabitants of the Sub-Division are economically poor though some portion of the population are wealthy enough and live a life far above the Poverty Line due to the presence of mineral wealth like coal and limestone and other agricultural products. Pnar tribe constitutes one of the main tribes residing in the district. Other tribes who live in different parts of the district include Biate, Hmar, Garo, Khasi and War. Pnar language is the common language spoken by the people of the district. Jaintias are also known as Syngtengs and Pnars. Their kingdom was the oldest one and widely spread over the hilly areas of the Jaintia Hills District. The origin of the Jaintia kingdom is unknown. The capital, Jaitiapur, now ruined, was located on the plains at the foot of the Jaintia Hills. Jaintia people are rich in their cultural heritage. Their culture reflects the traditions, music, dances, arts and crafts of Jaintia tribe. The tribe is famous for artistic weaving, would carving and cane and bamboo works. These are also the main crafts of the tribe. They are also famous for weaving of carpet and silk and the making of musical instruments, jewellery and pine apple fibre articles. Jaintia men wear Jymphong and dhoti while the women wrap several pieces of cloths so as to give a cylindrical shape.