Shillong, Feb 11: The East Jaintia Hills District Magistrate has ordered dismantling of heavy machinery, including coal lifting cranes and tents, installed at illegal coal mine in Mynsngat-Thangsko area.
The DM said the machinery and others are creating public nuisance and hazardous to the public, and might be used for illegal extraction of coal.
According to the District Magistrate, three to four coal mines are operating adjacent to each other in the area, using heavy machinery like lifting cranes for fresh coal extraction.
An order issued under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) said dismantling shall be carried out strictly under the supervision of the Investigating Officer, which should be photographed before and after their removal.
The inquiry officer has also been directed to geo-tag the places with proper GPS coordinates and to submit an action taken report at the earliest.
Meanwhile, authorities have seized approximately 11, 732 metric ton of illegally mined coal during its enforcement drive carried out from February 6.
About 432.15 MT of illegal coal was seized from Iapmala village today.
An approximate 1020 MT coal was seized from Sohkymphor road, 2091.496 MT (approx) from Sohkymphor and Byrwai road, 227.78 MT (approx) from Sohkymphor, Iurimkhliehshnong and 1058 MT (approx) from the roadside stretch between Byrwai village and Ladmynska yesterday.
An order under Section 163 BNSS was clamped for the public safety during the ongoing operations, being carried out by five teams of officials, comprising of Executive Magistrates, Police and officials from the Directorate of Mineral Resources (DMR).
So far the teams have seized illegal coal from various locations in Umthe and Sakhain–Thangsko road.
The enforcement drive against illegal mining was after 32 coal miners were killed in a dynamite explosion at an illegal coal mine in Thangsko area.
The district administration said FIRs have been registered in connection with reported illegal mining activities, and further legal action is underway.
