NGT hearing
SHILLONG: The state government has sought extension of time for payment of royalty on extracted coal after the deadline in this regard expired on February 15.
The government placed this plea before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) during its hearing held at the national capital on Thursday.
Earlier the NGT had fixed May 15 as the last date for transportation of coal after payment of royalty by February 15.
The Counsel for the state government Ranjan Mukherjee said over phone that during the next hearing on March 8 he would request the tribunal to extend the time till April 15 for the payment of royalty as this would not disturb the deadline for transportation of coal i.e May 15.
Mukherjee said that during the hearing, the direction of NGT on December 23 last year on re-submission of mining guidelines to the union coal ministry was taken up.
Others issues including illegal extraction and transportation of coal and the eco- restoration plan of the mining sites were taken up during the hearing.
Mukherjee said that the plea of the state government was that a status report on these issues will be filed in the next date of hearing which was accepted by NGT.
