The Meghalaya High Court has asked the State government to take expeditious steps to dispose of the coal mined before 2017 since there are allegations from several quarters that coal continues to be illegally mined in the State and the recently mined coal is sought to be passed off as the previously mined coal.
While hearing a suo motu PIL on illegal coal mining in the State, the full bench of the High Court also said that a third interim report has been filed by Justice B P Katakey dated August 9, 2022.
“The suggestions and recommendations made in the third interim report are likely to be directed to be implemented, subject to the views expressed by the appearing parties. Expeditious steps are also to be taken to dispose of the coal which remains since there are allegations from several quarters that coal continues to be illegally mined in the State and the recently mined coal sought to be passed off as the previously mined coal,” the High Court said.
In the meantime, the High Court asked Justice Katakey to indicate the exact quantum of coal which remains to be disposed of. It also directed the State government to render all assistance to ensure that an accurate figure is indicated.
“Once an accurate figure is available, it would allay fears of freshly mined coal being passed off as coal mined prior to the stoppage directions issued by or about 2017,” the court said.
While directing the State government to pay Justice Katakey a further ad hoc remuneration of Rs 1.5 lakh, the High Court listed the next hearing on the matter on August 25.
It may be mentioned that the High Court had on April 19 appointed Justice Katakey, a former Judge of the Gauhati High Court, to inquire and recommend the measures to be taken by the State government in compliance with the directions issued by the Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) regarding coal mining in the State.
Justice Katakey was also authorised to recommend the measures to be immediately taken to comply with the outstanding directions of the Supreme Court and NGT, including the disposal of coal now available in various parts of the State under the aegis of Coal India Limited.
