EJH district admin taking steps to end illegal mining & transportation of coal

SHILLONG, Dec 27: The Meghalaya High Court appointed one-man inquiry committee headed by Justice (retired) BP Katakey has exposed fresh illegal coal mining and transportation in East Jaintia Hills district, but the district administration asserted that several steps have being taken to curb the illegalities.
Despite assurances from the state government and the district administration that the illegalities have stopped, the High Court refused to accept the government’s stand and recently ordered transfer of the then Superintendent of Police, Jagpal Singh Dhanoa.
East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal told The Shillong Times on Wednesday that although the district is short-staffed, efforts are being made to put an end to the illicit mining and transportation of coal.
The DC stated, “We have to invent and we are already doing that for controlling the illegality,” while also noting that a sizable portion of the administration and police are on duty to check the illegal coal trade.
“We have been able to control it to a large extent over the last one or two years, and last year we were able to seize about 73,000 tonnes of illegally extracted coal. The coal is being seized wherever the coordinates and other details do not match.”
He bemoaned the lack of manpower in the district, adding that there are only two ADMs and one Assistant Commissioner, and that despite this shortage, they are making every effort to conduct as many inspections as they can.
In addition to helping many miners secure a mining lease as soon as possible, the administration is also interacting with civil societies to educate them on the legal ramifications of illicit coal mining, he added.
It may be mentioned that the 18th interim report filed by Justice Katakey with the High Court reported that huge quantities of “freshly-mined” coal was dumped by the side of National Highway 6 near Don Bosco junction as well as behind the Don Bosco College (former St. Anthony’s College) in Byndihati village in the district.
The Court had observed that the remarks in the 18th interim report are alarming and points out to a larger picture of illegal mining still being indulged in with impunity, inspite of the orders of the Supreme Court, NGT and directives of the high court.
According to the court, “The fact that the coal dump is located in a prominent location i.e. behind the Don Bosco College, Byndihati, speaks volumes about the manner of discharge of duties by the officials concerned, especially the head of police administration in the district, i.e. the Superintendent of Police.