Bandh eveokes mixed response in Meghalaya

The 12-hour 'dawn to dusk' shutdown in Meghalaya called by coal miners today evoked mixed response in the state with the business community in the two coal-mining districts of Jaintia hills observing total shutdown, official sources said.
The 12-hour bandh was called by the coal miners under the umbrella of the State Co-ordination Committee of Coal Owners', Miners' and Dealers' Forum (SCCCOMDF) to protest against the state government's failure to defend them against the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) ban on coal mining and transportation.
With the state government taking adequate security measures, the bandh passed off peacefully with no untoward incidents reported, East Khasi hills district Superintendent of Police M Kharkhrang said.

Stating that the bandh evoked 'mixed response', officials in the Home Department said, most business establishments and educational institutions remained closed.
While government offices functioned normally, some banks and other financial institutions were closed despite the government's appeal to defy the shutdown, the officials said.
In the state capital, shops and big business establishments in the major commercial areas like Iewduh and Khyndailad remained closed while small shops in different localities did business as usual, sources said.

Major markets in other parts of the state failed to do trade during the bandh, the officials said.
Vehicular movement was thin as compared to normal days with some vehicles, mostly government and some private cars including taxis, were seen plying on the road. The state transports buses were also seen plying in different parts of the city, the sources said.

"The overall percentage of attendance of office goers in the entire district stands at 70 per cent," East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goyal said.
"Shops and other business establishments remained closed during the bandh hours," East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner W R Lyngdoh said adding that attendance in offices was only 30 per cent.
In West Jaintia Hills District, the Deputy Commissioner P S Dkhar said that despite 92 per cent attendance in government offices and banks, trade was affected.
The government had urged its employees not to respond to the bandh call.
As per statistic of the state and central government offices with the home department, the attendance of office goers in other districts were as follows: 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 only 4 per cent.