The Meghalaya High Court has ordered for immediate closure of all illegal coke plants in West Khasi Hills and also those operating without official consent in other districts of the State.
In an order passed today on a PIL filed by Monu Kumar, the division bench of the High Court also directed the Chief Secretary to file a compliance report with the Registrar-General of the High Court by December 19.
“All other coke plants, whatever may be the size and whoever may be directly or indirectly controlling the same, must be shut down as of today. The Chief Secretary will file a compliance report with the Registrar-General by December 19, 2022, confirming such a position,” the High Court said.
The High Court also said that the Deputy Commissioner, West Khasi Hills along with the Superintendent of Police will show cause why appropriate action should be taken against them for failing to take steps against all coke making units operating in their jurisdiction without due authority.
Further the court directed all Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police in other districts of the State to ensure that there is no coke making unit operating within their jurisdiction other than those that have obtained due consent to operate.
“All Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of the districts will confirm such a position by filing individual reports addressed to the Chief Secretary within a week from date,” the High Court said.
“As for those units which have been found to have operated illegally, all raw material and finished product should be seized and immediate appropriate action initiated against the persons in control of the units in accordance with law,” the court added.
The High Court also stated that the State administration “appears to be complicit in the illegal functioning of coke plants in the State” as is evident from the writ petition and a letter addressed by the Superintendent of Police, West Khasi Hills District to the Deputy Commissioner dated December 15, 2022, a copy of which has been produced in the court by the State government.
“It may be recalled that despite this court’s efforts over the last several months to implement the orders passed by the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal to prohibit the illegal mining of coal and the illegal setting up of coke plants, the State government has done precious little. Indeed, it now appears that the State government may have helped circumvent orders and actively connive with the operators of the illegal coke plants. A coke plant is not really a cottage industry that it can be surreptitiously operated from a basement or attic. It takes effort not to notice a fully operational coke plant,” the court said.
“It is a matter of crying shame that the position continues, both pertaining to illegal coal mining and the functioning of unauthorised coke oven plants. It may not be a coincidence that the elections are round the corner,” the court added.
According to the writ petitioner (Monu Kumar), there are more than 60 coke making units in the West Khasi Hills District against the admitted position that only four units have been granted consent to operate. These are the only four that had previously obtained consent to establish the units.
The letter dated December 15, 2022 placed on behalf of the State government revealed that a spot inspection was conducted by the Committee on Environment of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly on August 18, 2020 on all the coke making units in and around Shallang, which is in the West Khasi Hills District. This limited inspection revealed 16 coke making units operating without any permission from the appropriate authorities.
According to a document issued by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board and relied upon in the writ petition, which is corroborated by the letter of December 15, 2022, only four units – Carbochem India, Shemphang Riangshiang, Rilangam Coke Industries and MD Coke Industries – have consent to operate coke plants in West Khasi Hills District.
“In the suo motu proceedings initiated by this court pertaining to the continued illegal mining of coal in the State despite the orders of the Supreme Court and the NGT, the latest order of December 8, 2022 observed, inter alia, that the State Pollution Control Board should maintain a strict vigil to ensure that environmental norms were not violated and, if violated, appropriate action be taken. The functioning of any coke oven plant without due permission would amount to flagrant violation of the environmental norms and the State Pollution Control Board should crack down on such units in the State which are found to have functioned without due authority of law,” the High Court said.
Further, the High Court said that if the State government is unable to implement this order or the subsisting orders of courts and tribunals which are binding on it, the High Court will have to look at resources beyond the State to enforce such orders.
While directing for immediate serving of notice to all unserved respondents along with copies of this order, the High Court listed the matter for hearing on February 1, 2023.
