SHILLONG, March 13: The state government on Monday submitted before the High Court of Meghalaya that it has asked the investigating agency concerned to trace the original operators of the illegal coke plants and bring them to book.
During the hearing on Monday, the government submitted that there is no impediment to shutting down all illegally operating coke plants in the state.
“As to what may be perceived to be illegally operating coke plants would be if such plants do not have any license or permission to operate or, even if they do possess the requisite license, the source of coal is not legitimate. Both aspects are of key importance,” the court said.
The state offered to let Justice (retd) BP Katakey look into this aspect, as suggested on behalf of the petitioner.
The petitioner was accordingly given the liberty to approach Justice Katakey who has been appointed to monitor the implementation of the orders of the National Green Tribunal and the Supreme Court pertaining to illegal coal mining in Meghalaya to ensure that illegally operating coke plants are checked.
Deputy Solicitor General of India, Dr Nitesh Mozika submitted that after orders have been passed for shutting the illegal coke plants, the real persons who started the illegal operations may have abandoned most of these units and the local persons or the workers may have taken over their reduced operations.
Mozika said the identification of the kingpins should not be a difficult job as they are well-known.
The advocate-general submitted that the state has asked the investigating agency to track down and bring the original operators to book.
Additional penal provisions have apparently been incorporated in the original FIRs to facilitate such a process.
“If the real culprits are well-known, it would be expected of the state to take appropriate action against them in accordance with the law,” the court said.
