SC to hear coal royalty case after a month

SHILLONG:  The Supreme Court has fixed the hearing on the plea to extend transportation of extracted coal after four weeks.
The counsel for the state government Ranjan Mukherjee said over phone from Delhi  that after the  matter came up for hearing on Monday, the apex  court  said that it will take a decision  after four weeks.
The Hima Nongstoin Land Owners’ Association had filed the petition before the apex court seeking extension of payment of royalty and also new date for transportation of coal following the order of NGT in May that the remaining coal should be  auctioned off.
Mukherjee said that at it was a long hearing and at one point of time, the apex court was not inclined to proceed with the case as it wanted the parties to approach NGT.
However, the Court was later convinced that there was no illegal extraction and transportation of coal after getting feedback from the lawyer representing All Dimasa Students Union.
Notices were also issued to All Dimasa Students Union and the state government for further submissions before the apex court takes up the case again.
Meanwhile, on July 21, the pending case of ban on coal mining will come up for hearing before NGT.
The mining plan and mining guidelines will be taken up during the hearing.
Mukherjee had earlier said that he preferred extension of payment of royalty from October 1 to December 31 and transportation of coal to continue till February 28 next year since 30 lakh metric tonnes of extracted coal   is yet to be transported.