SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Tuesday asserted that the state government is not allowing any illegal mining of coal or its transportation and also mulling framing stringent laws in this regard.
The assertion comes close on the heels of the National Green Tribunal recommending adoption of an electronic system to regulate movement of trucks carrying illegally mined coal.
Speaking to newsmen here, Sangma said that the government has set up committees in all the districts and they are conducting field visits in coal mining areas to keep an eye.
Stating that a number of people have been arrested and cases registered, he said that the government is also looking to implement stringent laws to check illegal coal mining.
He said that under the existing laws, those who indulge in illegal coal mining are booked under CrPC and are allowed to go after taking paying a fine, but now the government is looking to make stringent laws to deter people from illegal mining of coal and its transportation.
He said that the administration has limited manpower, but action is being taken as and when any case of illegal coal mining is detected.
During the hearing on the second report of the judicial committee headed by BP Katoki on April 11, the NGT principal bench, Delhi, said the panel may consider requiring a foolproof mechanism to be adopted for effective action against transportation of illegally mined coal such as electronic manifest system for regulating movement of vehicles and issuance of challans.
Another suggestion to the NGT appointed committee is that it may also consider requiring audit of the source of coal acquired by captive power plants and cement companies in Meghalaya.
It was on the direction of the Tribunal on August 31 last year for restoration of the damaged environment and rehabilitation of victims that the committee headed by Katoki, a former judge of Gauhati High Court, was constituted.
The NGT has accepted the report submitted by the committee on March 31. There will be further hearing on the matter in August.
