SHILLONG: The NGT has left it to the Supreme Court to finally decide on lifting the ban on coal mining in the state.
While disposing of the case related to the ban on rat-hole coal mining, the August 31 order of the NGT said the ban on rat-hole mining will continue, subject to further orders of the Supreme Court.
Earlier, Lber Laloo had filed a petition before the Supreme Court for lifting the ban on coal mining.
“Ban on transportation of the already mined material will also continue subject to further orders of the Supreme Court,” the NGT said.
The order also said the Meghalaya government will be the receiver or custodian of the available extracted coal as on date, subject to further order of the Supreme Court.
“If any further coal not so far recorded in the inventory is available, a separate inventory may be made and if it is found that the extraction was illegal, royalty in terms of orders already passed may also be collected,” the order said, adding that this may be determined by the State Secretary of Mining.
Different views
According to NGT, while one view is that there is extracted coal and not accounted for, the other view put forward is that it is the result of illegal mining.
The Secretary of Mining has been asked to look into this aspect and the same may be cross-checked by a joint team of representatives of Central Pollution Control Board and Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad.
Panel for eco-restoration
The order gave details about formation of a judicial committee to deal with restoration of the environment and rehabilitation of the victims for which funds are available.
“We are of the view that for this task, it will be appropriate that we constitute an independent committee. This committee will be headed by Justice BP Katoki, former Judge of the Guwahati High Court, with representatives from Central Pollution Control Board and Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad,” the NGT said.
The panel will have to assume charge within two weeks from August 31.
The committee has been asked to frame its action plan for implementation within one month and implementation may be completed within six months as far as possible, the order said.
The NGT said the committee may also assess the damage to the environment as well as to individuals.
“The committee may also supervise any issue arising out of custodianship of the already extracted coal, including any environmental issues which may arise out of storage of the extracted material and the steps required to be taken for the purpose,” the NGT said.
The NGT will examine the report of the committee on March 6 next year.
