Mining is an unregulated activity in Meghalaya. Forests are felled and coal and limestone are excavated without any concern for the environment. The existence of a State Pollution Control Board has not added to the quality of the environment or reduced pollution in any way. On the contrary, "No objection certificates" to coal and limestone mine operators are given without giving a correct environmental impact assessment. The damage to the environment in Jaintia Hills is almost irreversible. It is significant to note that no serious study has so far been conducted by any agency or institution. If the studies were conducted they have not been made public. It speaks volumes that an agency from outside the State namely the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) will be formally releasing a study on the impact of mining in Meghalaya. Ms Sunita Narain known to have taken on the giant multinational Coca Cola, who she alleges have used polluted ground water will herself be present to make the presentation. It is an irony that the Minister in charge of Mining and Geology who should actually be the chief audience is now thousands of kilometres away in another country trying to learn how that country carries out its coal mining activities. This is not the first time that our ministers have traversed the universe on a learning expedition. Many years ago a big group of ministers criss-crossed Europe to savour the experiences of globalisation. They were supposed to have come back and set in motion the process of development and entrepreneurship. But none of that was visible. It is expected that this group too would busy themselves with sight-seeing tours and come back to their normal file pushing activity. Although this is part of the perks of office of politicians in power, the least that can be expected from such foreign jaunts is a report of some kind detailing the sort of experiences they have had and how much of that they could replicate in Meghalaya. Surely this is part of the process of accountability. Environmental degradation in this State has somehow evaded the attention of the government. Several media reports about the poisoning of rivers and drastic climate changes manifested in excess rainfall leading to crop devastation has resulted in a cover-up job instead of an admission of facts. To add to this abysmal scenario is the unfettered quarrying that not only defaces the landscape but has the potential to cause severe land slides. That quarrying carries on unabated even within city limits shows a complete lack of supervision by the city administration. The plea has always been that anything that happens on private land is beyond the purview of government. This is no longer tenable. Government has to act and act fast.