SHILLONG: The matter relating to ban on coal mining by National Green Tribunal in Meghalaya came up for hearing before the Supreme Court on August 13 and the final decision regarding the matter is yet to be taken.
In the last three hearings, the supreme court had directed the central government to file status report on the various steps taken both by the state and the central governments on coal mining in the state.
Meghalaya had urged the union government to exempt the state from a few provisions of MMRD act and allow coal mining to resume in the state.
However, the union government in its reply filed before the court had stated that the state government was not firm with its approach on the matter as it keeps on changing its stand from time to time and hence, to take a final decision on the matter requires thorough studies on various communications submitted by the state to the union government
However, in countering the claim of the union government, the counsel for Iber Laloo, submitted that it was the union government which is not sure about its stand on the matter and not the state, as on the one hand (through some official communications) it says coal mining in Meghalaya is not covered under central acts and now it again changed its stand and said a different thing altogether.
On May 7, the union government made a submission before the supreme court that it is on the final stage of taking a decision on the matter and the same will be completed within three months from May.
The supreme court observed that the matter of ban on coal mining in the state is pending for quite some time and the court expected the union government to take the decision before July 30.
The Centre on July 30 submitted before the court that the status report is ready and it will be filed within two days time from that day and it was allowed by the supreme court.
On July 30, the association Ka Hima Nongstoin Land Owners Coal traders and Producers Association, urged the supreme court to allow its case to be tagged along with that of Iber Laloo in civil appeal and the court allowed this. In the last hearing held on August 13, the Centre informed the court that the status report as directed by the court has been filed and copies served to the state counsel and the court directed the counsel of union government to serve copies of the status report to other parties too.
Since Laloo is the only person from Meghalaya who has approached the supreme court for lifting of ban on coal mining and also to allow mining to resume in the state, the court directed that his case of civil appeal be shown as lead matter and all other matters filed by other parties will be shown as tagged matters.
The supreme court said the matter will be listed after two weeks and it is likely to come up on August 31.
