NGT panel fiat on illegal mining, transportation

SHILLONG: The NGT panel headed by retired judge BP Katoki has asked the state government to stop illegal coal mining and transportation.
The NGT panel held a meeting in the city on Monday and discussed the need to ensure strict implementation of the ban on coal mining.
There were media reports about illegal mining of coal and its transportation.
Katoki said after he sought a report on the death of four coal workers when the truck in which they were travelling in overturned in East Jaintia Hills, the state government could not give details.
Six persons were also injured in the incident occurred on March 11 in Sutnga area of East Jaintia Hills. “The deputy commissioner only said the truck had the registration of Silchar,” Katoki said.
He added that the district administration could not provide any action taken report and it was clueless about the owner of the coal mine for whom the labourers worked. The deceased and the injured hailed from Bihar.
Punishment under MMDR Act
The NGT panel said the new development in terms of action against violation is that authorised officers, especially the deputy commissioners can now file cases under the MMDR Act, 1957, for legal action.
The notification empo-wering officers was issued on March 13 and with this, when there are violations of NGT ban, through MMDR Act, vehicles, machinery and other equipment can be confiscated.
Till date, the authorities had only used Section 188 of IPC for punishing the violators by imposing fine or imprisonment, which was not effective.
The Section 188 speaks about punishment with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month or with fine which may extend to Rs 200.
After the NGT ban, 2,155 persons have been arrested so far in 1,316 cases of violation of the NGT ban on extraction of coal and transportation.
Awareness campaign
Katoki said the move of the government to create awareness campaign on issues related to coal mining was not satisfactory. The awareness programme was conducted only in three schools in February. He said awareness programmes should have been conducted in coal-producing districts. The state government officials informed the NGT panel that the government has formulated a scheme to train the people for alternative livelihood to coal mining. The deputy commissioners have been asked to identify people for skill development.The Commissioner and Secretary, Labour Department, will have a meeting with the trainers on April 3 in this regard.
Water pollution
The panel also expressed concern over contaminated water being supplied to the residents in East Jaintia Hills by PHE from the 26 water supply schemes.
“After we had directed the authorities concerned in the last meeting to provide safe drinking water, the quality of water has improved after treatment,” he said.
The panel chief said the PHE also procured testing equipment to test the quality of water.