SHILLONG, Nov 9: The state government has told the High Court of Meghalaya that the central government has referred the applications of individuals, who sought license to undertake coal-mining activities, to an expert body.
The court said Justice (retd) BP Katakey filed the eighth interim report on illegal mining of coal. It had appointed him to oversee the implementation of the directions issued by the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the auction of previously illegally mined coal.
The court said the interim report makes out a summary of the directions issued by the Supreme Court and the NGT, the status of implementation of such directions, including orders passed in respect thereof in the present proceedings, and the action taken by the State in such regard.
The third part of the report deals with coke oven plants and ferro alloy plants where coal is used as an ingredient.
“The State has apparently forwarded the applications made by several parties seeking license to undertake coal-mining activities to the Centre. The State reports that the Central government has referred the applications to an expert body,” the court said in an order on Wednesday.
It said what is undeniable is that the State confirmed there is no license issued for mining of coal in any form whatsoever at the moment.
“The State has also apparently warned truck owners’ associations that firm action would be taken against the individual truckers and the parent association if any fresh illegally mined coal is attempted to be transported…
“As far as the auction of the previously mined coal is concerned, the State says that substantial progress has been made in terms of the timelines indicated in previous affidavits filed by the State and noticed in the orders passed by this Court,” the court said.
Advocate General A Kumar submitted that several steps have been taken pursuant to the previous directions, particularly relating to the auction of coal, and to ensure that there is no mining of coal in the State at all or any transportation of coal otherwise than for auction of the previously mined coal.
