Five-member Tribunal Bench to hear case on Tuesday
SHILLONG: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has set a precondition to the State government to provide the names of as many as 20 mine owners, whose mines are being used for illegal extraction of coal, before fulfilling the demand of the government to extend the date of payment of royalty till April 15.
A five member Bench of the NGT will hear the matter on the next date of hearing scheduled for March 15.
Earlier, a deadline of May 15 was set by the NGT to complete the whole process of transportation of already extracted coal.
A hearing on the request of the Meghalaya government to extend the date for payment of royalty was held in Delhi on Thursday, but the Tribunal wanted the names of the mine owners to be provided on the next date of hearing.
Supreme Court lawyer and counsel for the State government, Ranjan Mukherjee, informed over phone from Delhi that the NGT wanted the complete names and addresses of the miners whose mines are being used for carrying out illegal mining of coal before taking a decision on the extension of date for payment of royalty.
Mukherjee said the Tribunal did not want the names of drivers and carriers of coal, but those mine owners who are responsible for carrying out illegal mining.
Mukherjee also asked the State government to complete the exercise of identifying the miners and keeping their names ready.
According to Mukherjee, since the matter is serious, a Bench consisting of five members will hear the matter on Tuesday at 10:30 AM as the first item.