New Delhi: The hearing of the case related to the further transportation of extracted coal and payment of royalty in the Principal Bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) was adjourned abruptly on Friday after Additional DGP of Meghalaya YC Modi fainted inside the Tribunal premises.
Modi was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital in the Judge’s official vehicle. He condition is stated to be stable.
Modi collapsed while answering questions put forward by the Judge of Principal Bench Justice Swatanter Kumar, who is also the Chairman of NGT during the hearing.
Modi was summoned along with others in the wake of reports about violation of NGT ban on coal mining — rampant transportation of coal and illegal mining.
The tribunal had received report of the Commissioner who had visited different districts of Meghalaya to oversee how the directives of the NGT was being implemented. The NGT had stopped the transportation of already extracted coal on February 12.
In the last hearing the NGT had observed that the local commissioners’ report indicated that all directions of the Tribunal are being violated in the state
The NGT had further directed Secretary Mining and Geology, Director Mining Corporation, Additional Director General of Police, Deputy Commissioner, SP of East Jantia of Hills and owner of the Mines from which the illegal mining has been carried out Sarkia Pawa and Prakash Pawa to appear before the tribunal.
The lawyer of Meghaya Government Ranjan Mukherjee said that the everyone, who was issued summons, attended Friday’s hearing but the hearing was adjourned after Additional Director General of Police fell unwell.
The Court had also directed SP of East Jaintia Hills District to ensure presence of all the parties before the Tribunal on the next hearing scheduled for Monday.
