By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 4: The High Court of Meghalaya has sought continuous action to ensure that illegally mined coal in the state is not diverted to ferroalloy, cement, and coke industries.
Pursuant to an order on September 26, the state government filed a report during the hearing of a PIL related to the illegal mining of coal in Meghalaya.
The state’s advocate-general submitted that some details on the extent of the use of coal in the ferroalloy, cement, and coke plants are awaited.
Show-cause notices have been issued to some of the cement manufacturing units in view of certain observations made by retired judge BP Katakey, it was submitted.
“Further action in such regard should continue unabated to ensure that the illegally-mined coal in the state is not diverted to such industries as aforesaid,” the court of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee, Justice HS Thangkhiew, and Justice W Diengdoh said.
As to the 17th interim report filed by Justice Katakey, the state said that a report would be filed by October 7 as directed. The report would be on the steps taken by the state with respect to various aspects pointed out in the interim report.
The state also assured the court that the disposal of the previously mined coal is continuing according to schedule and that the schedule submitted in court would be adhered to as far as practicable.
In another PIL, the petitioner filed an affidavit incorporating certain allegations against Jaimaa Coal Private Limited, the persons in control thereof and other entities under the control of such persons. The state was also directed to look into the allegations levelled by the petitioner against Jaimaa, its associates and the persons in control.
Meanwhile, the Assam government assured the court that all assistance has been rendered to Meghalaya Police to ensure that the incidental activities pertaining to illegal coal mining in Meghalaya, if conducted in Assam, are arrested.