NGT ban :Auction of extracted coal
SHILLONG: The state government will wait till July 7 for the direction of NGT before carrying out auction of coal.
From May 15, the transportation of extracted coal was stopped as per the order of NGT.
Another direction of NGT was that the remaining 30 lakh metric tonnes of coal, worth Rs 1400 crore, will have to be auctioned by the state government though the miners’ body had pleaded for extension of time to pay royalty as well as for transportation of coal.
An official source said on Wednesday that the actual assessment of already extracted coal lying in parts of the state will be assessed by the state government and the same will be intimated to NGT.
“We will not immediately start auction as the actual quantity of coal will be intimated to NGT and we will wait for its direction on the next date of hearing on July 7,” the official added.
According to the official, since the transportation of coal has come to a halt officially from May 15, now it is the duty of government and police to strictly protect the quantity of already extracted coal from being illegally transported.
Earlier, the NGT had allowed payment of royalty till April 15 and the transportation of extracted coal till May 15 after which the State government was entrusted with the task to sell or auction the remaining coal.
The State government has already collected around Rs.700 crore from November, 2014 till April this year in terms of royalty and Meghalaya Environmental Restoration Fund for the transportation of extracted coal.
Section 144 CrPC imposed: Concerned over the violation of NGT order banning coal mining, the West Jaintia Hills district administration re-imposed section 144 CrPC prohibiting mining activities.
The district administration said that in continuation to the order passed under section 144 CrPC on March 3 this year, and in pursuance of the National Green Tribunal order, it has come to the notice of the Magistrate that mining of coal is still being carried out in the district.
To prevent this, the District Magistrate under section 144 CrPC has issued an order prohibiting mining of coal in the entire district until further orders received from the National Green Tribunal, transportation of coal within and outside the district, ferrying of coal from mines or jungles to the coal depot or stockyard, dumping of coal on the road sides of the National Highway-44 and PWD roads.
Assembly of persons or group of people and carrying of arms and lethal weapons that may likely to cause injury was also prohibited except for the security forces.
“If anyone is found violating the order stern actions will be taken as per the law. This will include all coal mine owners, labourers, truck owners, driver “, the magistrate said. This order will come into force with immediate effect and until further orders.