From Our Correspondent
MAWKYRWAT, Feb 12: The District Magistrate of South West Khasi Hills District on Thursday imposed Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, prohibiting rat-hole coal mining in South West Khasi Hills District and transportation of coal without valid challan/ documents or permission/ licence issued by competent authority to and from the district.
The District Magistrate stated that rat-hole mining is hazardous to the people and the environment and was banned by the National Green Tribunal in April 2014 and illegal mining poses imminent threat to human life, causes irreversible environmental degradation and creates a risk of public disturbance and breach of peace.
The order warned that violation would attract penal actions under Section 163 BNSS apart from the other prevalent relevant laws.
