SHILLONG: Coal miners are seeking reassessment of extracted coal in all districts after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) allowed the same in South Garo Hills.
In a statement to the media on Wednesday, the State Co-ordination Committee of Coal Owners, Miners and Dealers Forum (SCCCOMDF) said that it had moved an application before the National Green Tribunal in New Delhi on May 11, seeking a similar direction like the case of Semingri of South Garo Hills for reassessment of the extracted coal.
The forum stated that Meghalaya has eight coal bearing districts and the committee constituted by the NGT did not entirely make the visit to the interior regions to assess the extracted coal.
“However, the constituted committee as in many cases simply entered the assessment as nil in the coal inventory lists even though the coal miners have declared their extracted coal when the last survey was made”, the forum said.
The forum further argued that its statement is supported by the affidavit of the Directorate of Mineral Resources filed before the NGT to pass necessary orders for re-assessment of the extracted coal in all eight districts on par with the January 18 order which was passed earlier this year in favour of some individuals from South Garo Hills.
The NGT posted the matter for July 9 for consideration.