NGT ban : Transportation of coal
SHILLONG: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday took up the plea of coal miners’ body to extend the deadline for the transportation of extracted coal beyond May 15 which was earlier fixed by NGT, and issued notice to the state government for its response.
The Counsel for the state government Ranjan Mukherjee indicated that the state government may seek another extension of the deadline to pay royalty till June 30, and transportation of extracted coal till July 31.
In an earlier order, NGT had made it clear that after May 15, the remaining coal should be auctioned by the state government.
When the matter came up for hearing, the Counsel for the state government Mukherjee made a submission that since 30 lakh metric tonnes of coal worth Rs 1400 crore lying, extension of the deadline to pay royalty and its transportation will help the state earn more revenue compared to the process of auction.
The submission of the Counsel was that the state government will not get adequate price if the coal is auctioned.
As the notice was issued to state government, Mukherjee said that the views of the government which would be submitted before NGT would be to extend the deadline to pay royalty till June 30 , and transportation of coal till July 31.
The matter will come up for hearing before NGT on May 10.
