State for extension of coal royalty payment period

SHILLONG: The mining and geology department is in favour of extending the payment of royalty from October 1 to December 31 for the transportation of already extracted coal.
Though the pending case filed by Hima Nongstoin Land Owners’ Association was to come up in Supreme Court on Monday, the matter was deferred and it was learnt the next hearing may be held on July 19.
The Supreme Court lawyer and counsel for the state government Ranjan Mukherjee said over phone from Delhi on Monday that during the next hearing, as authorized by state mining and geology department, his submission before the apex court will be to extend the payment of royalty from October 1 to December 31 and to allow transportation of already extracted coal from October 1 till February 28 next year.
According to Mukherjee, at least 30 lakh metric tonnes of extracted coal worth Rs 1455 crore is lying unutilized, and if the same quantity of coal is allowed to be transported, this will be a win-win situation for both miners and the state government.