SHILLONG, March 13: The state government has prepared a “blueprint” for the deployment of 160 companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to check the illegal mining and transportation of coal but the High Court of Meghalaya on Monday said 10 companies of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) should be enough for the purpose.
Hearing a suo-motu PIL on illegal coal mining in the state, the full bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justices HS Thangkhiew and W Diengdoh observed that the government’s plan is “grandiose” as it seeks the deployment of 100 companies of CRPF in the eastern range and 60 companies in the western range. One company consists of 135 personnel.
The court observed that it is fair and reasonable to deploy 10 companies of CISF and not CRPF as the latter functions under the command of the state police unlike the CISF which can function independently.
Considering the total area in the state and that some remote pockets do not have roads or the menace of illegal mining of coal and its transportation, 10 companies of CISF should be enough to check the vehicles and completely arrest the illegal transportation of coal, the court said.
It said while the CISF is engaged in checking vehicles, it can also check for contraband and ensure that the goods vehicles conform to the weight limits.
On a query from the court, the central government submitted that CISF would be able to handle the aspect of checking goods vehicles.
“Though the State has indicated in great detail the number of companies to be deployed in the 12 districts, including bifurcating the companies which would be involved in checking vehicles and others, the cost implication, even on a short-term, temporary basis, may make it unfeasible,” the court observed.
The government indicated an expenditure of Rs 316 crore for the construction of quarters and barracks and another expenditure of over Rs 58 crore annually for the requisition of vehicles.
However, the court said, “At any rate, even if the infrastructure constructed may be put to use by the state upon the CRPF no longer being required, it would take a considerable period to complete the construction and it would be a Herculean task to house 160 companies on a temporary basis. Indeed, the coal reserves may be exhausted by the time the state’s grand design is put in place.”
The court asked Deputy Solicitor General of India Dr Nitesh Mozika to ascertain the logistics and formalities for the deployment of the 10 CISF companies.
“The process may not last several years as the state proposes to open up scientific mining and grant licenses, therefore in accordance with the law which may make illegal coal mining an unattractive proposition thereafter,” the court said.
It asked the state and the central government to consider the 11th interim report that Justice (retd) BP Katakey has filed.
“It is also proposed that upon the 10 CISF companies being made available for the indicated purpose, the key areas which need to be manned and guarded would be decided in consultation with Justice Katakey. It is made clear that the deployment of CISF will be on a payment basis, subject to negotiation between the State and the Centre,” the court ordered.
