Several truck drivers, owners arrested for violating ban on transportation of coal
SHILLONG: Though the coal miners were directed to pay the royalty on the extracted coal assessed at the respective sites within February 11 and despite re-imposition of the ban on transportation of coal by the national Green Tribunal (NGT), unabated transportation of coal continues in the State with several arrests being made in Jaintia Hills for violation of the order.
On February 18, Police arrested four persons – Md. Chacha Pal Ali, Md. Juchas Ali, Md. Samal Ali and Md. Abdul Karim – while they were loading coal in one truck (ML-05H-6915) in violation of the NGT order at Shi Kilo in East Jaintia Hills District.
On the same day, Police arrested four persons – James Nuzury, Saral Basumatary, Karbar Sungi and Sarpan Basumatary – while they were unloading coal from one truck (AS-25C-3154) in violation of the NGT order at Shi Kilo.
On February 17 around 9 pm, Police detected one truck (ML-06-5014) belonging to Altrish Lyngdoh and being driven by Robin Kyrsiang (37), which was transporting coal in violation of the NGT order at New Nongstoin in West Khasi Hills.
On February 15 at about 3 pm, Police detected one Bolero Pick-up (without registration number) belonging to Md. Jahirul Islam and being driven by Md. Saher Ali which was illegally transporting coal in violation of the NGT order at Boldakgre village in West Garo Hills District.
It may be mentioned that the Meghalaya Government has moved the Principal Bench of the NGT to allow transportation of extracted and assessed coal till May 31 and the Government has also appealed to allow coal miners and owners to pay royalty on extracted coal till March 31.
The NGT’s Principal Bench is expected to pass the final order on February 26.
The NGT had in October last year asked coal miners and transporters to pay Rs.400 crore royalty to the State government within 45 days as per Mines Development and Regulation Act, 1957, before transporting 6.3 million tonnes of extracted coal lying in depots across the State.
