NGT Commissioners take note of mining in Sohra
SHILLONG: Even after the transportation of extracted coal for more than a year, around 46 lakh metric tonnes of coal meant for export is still lying in parts of the state.
There were also reports of fresh mining activities in Sohra as noticed by the commissioners appointed by NGT.
As the last date for the transportation of extracted coal is November 30, there are indications that there will be fresh request from the coal exporters to allow further transportation of already extracted coal during the NGT hearing in Delhi on Monday.
From the transportation of extracted coal since November last year, Meghalaya has earned revenue of Rs 388 crore till date. Out of this, Rs 258 crore is the royalty collected for transportation of already extracted coal and Rs 130 core has gone to the environment restoration fund as mandated by NGT.
Supreme Court lawyer and counsel for the state government, Ranjan Mukherjee said over phone from Delhi on Sunday that during the hearing on Monday, the report of the commissioners appointed by NGT will be presented.
“The commissioners visited East and West Khasi Hills and found some violations of the NGT order and the matter will be taken up with the Tribunal,” Mukherjee said.
According to Mukherjee, the commissioners detected that there were heaps of fresh coal in Sohra which according to them was a violation of NGT order.
Recently, as per police reports, there were cases of fresh extraction of coal reported from Jaintia Hills which led to the arrest of several workers including minors engaged in rat-hole coal mining.
Mining guidelines
The Centre is yet to approve the mining guidelines submitted by the state government.
The state government had submitted the mining guidelines to the Coal Ministry for its approval to ensure the continuation of mining activities in state after a ban imposed by NGT in April last year.
“The guidelines are being examined by the Coal and Environment ministries,” Mukherjee said.
