SHILLONG, June 12: The Director-General of Police has filed an affidavit before the High Court of Meghalaya saying that the actual owners or operators of the illegal coke plants are mostly based in Assam.
The affidavit also said that several benami transactions by the operators of the illegal business have come to light.
During the hearing of a PIL on Monday, petitioner Shailendra Kumar Sharma said that the kingpins are well known and are roaming freely in Guwahati with all and sundry aware of their whereabouts and their operations.
“It is hoped that the state police takes necessary steps in accordance with the law and as expeditiously as possible,” the full bench of the high court headed by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee said.
The court said another report may be filed by the DGP when the matter appears next three weeks hence.
Meanwhile, retired judge B.P. Katakey filed the 14th interim report, once again indicating the flourishing business in both coke oven and ferroalloy plants.
According to the report, there are 13 coke oven plants in operation in East Jaintia Hills and 38 others which are not in operation.
West Jaintia Hills and South West Khasi Hills respectively have two and six coke oven plants not in operation. In the West Khasi Hills district, there are four coke oven plants in operation and 61 others not in operation.
In addition, there is a ferroalloy plant in operation in the West Khasi Hills district. Ri-Bhoi has no coke oven plant, five out of seven ferroalloy plants are in operation. Details were also furnished as to whether the operating coke oven plants have permission to operate or otherwise.
“It is difficult to accept that such information as furnished in Justice Katakey’s latest report would not be available to the state or the state would not do anything to check the operation of coke oven and ferroalloy plants that continue without any permission. The DGP’s next report should deal specifically with such aspects of the matter by referring to the findings and observations in Justice Katakey’s 14th interim report,” the court said.
The court also said that the petitioner may furnish any additional information pertaining to the persons who are the real owners of the coke oven and ferroalloy plants in Meghalaya operating illegally while making it clear that its order would not prevent the plants that obtained due permission from continuing operations.
“However, the state must keep a strict vigil on such plants, particularly the source of coal obtained by such plants,” the court added.