Reclamation fund payment
SHILLONG: Following reports of bouncing of cheques deposited under reclamation fund for extraction of minor minerals, the forest department has swung into action.
The High Court of Meghalaya had in June last year ordered that 10% from the sale of minor minerals including limestone to Bangladesh should be deposited by exporters/miners as reclamation fund which will be used for the preservation of environment.
A senior forest official said on Thursday that the department has issued an order for payment of reclamation fund either through Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) or bank drafts and not by cheques.
“The cases of as many as 12 cheques which were bounced are yet to be settled under Divisional Forest Office, Jowai, while there are no cases presently under Divisional Forest Office, Shillong,” the official added.
The Divisional Forest Office, Jowai has also decided to stop issuing challans to the defaulters till the matter is settled.
According to an official with the Divisional Forest Office, Shillong, seven cheques worth over Rs 1 lakh had bounced sometime in March-April, but the forest department took up the matter with the defaulters and the amount was realized.
Earlier the June 30, 2015, the order of High Court had said that the state government, in order to reclaim the damage caused to the forest and the environment, as a result of mining activities, even if permitted under the rules, “shall have to draw a comprehensive scheme and create a fund for reclamation wherefore an amount to the extent of not less than 10% of the sale proceeds of the minerals extracted under the license or lease deed and in accordance with the principle that a ‘polluter shall pay’ can be validly charged”.