NONGSTOIN: The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday heard the plea of the Hima Nongstoin Land Owners’, Coal Traders’ & Producers’ Association and the Labour Association Area Siejlieh, of West Khasi Hills, in the matter dealing with the alleged environmental pollution of the Kopili River flowing in Meghalaya.
The National Green Tribunal had passed an order on April 17, 2014, following an application filed by All Dimasa Students’ Union and the Dima Hasao District Committee of Assam alleging contamination of the Kopili River, imposing a complete ban on coal mining activities in the entire state of Meghalaya.
The Hima Nongstoin Land Owners’, Coal Traders’ & Producers’ Association and the Labour Association Area Siejlieh had filed an application in the matter and had stated that it is a registered association which presents the consent of the land owners, coal traders and the labourers respectively.
Counsel for the association, U. Hazarika, Senior Advocate Pyllang Nongbri and Advocate Philamon Nongbri contended that the Association is primarily involved in small scale coal mining which formed the subject matter of the dispute and claimed that the Association was a necessary party to the case, because it directly and indirectly affected the members of the Association.
The NGT after hearing the application posted the case on June 2 at Shillong.
In another development, the Supreme Court in an appeal filed by some person against the same order dated directed that the challenge should be pushed before the Tribunal only and not before the apex court.
