The Meghalaya High Court has taken a serious view of the failure of the State government to stop the rampant illegal mining and transportation of coal.
In view of the gravity of the matter, the matter will now be taken up by the full bench of the High Court from March 7.
During hearing of a suo motu PIL today, the division bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh censured the State government for not acting as per the orders of the Supreme Court and the recommendations of the committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on the issue of illegal coal mining.
“The aspect that engages the attention of this court is the illegal mining that appears to have resurfaced and is rampant in large areas of the State, without any permission or license or sanction being obtained therefore notwithstanding the law as declared in the Supreme Court judgment of July 3, 2019. Let the matter appear before the full bench on March 7, 2022,” the High Court said.
According to the High Court, the matter is of importance and great seriousness since the orders of the National Green Tribunal as approved by the Supreme Court “appear not to have been carried out”.
“In view of Article 144 of the Constitution of India and the obligation of all to aid in the implementation of the orders of the Supreme Court and the apparent failure of the State in such regard as would be apparent from the newspaper reports on the basis of which cognizance were taken, an inquiry is called for. It is also evident that certain time-bound recommendations were made by a committee constituted by the NGT and there is copious reference to such recommendations in the Supreme Court order of July 3, 2019. Several other recommendations have subsequently been directed to be implemented by the NGT, but it does not appear that any action has been taken in such regard.”
During today’s hearing, the independent report by Chief Secretary Rebecca V. Suchiang and acting Director General of Police Idashisha Nongrang regarding the illegal coal mining at Nengchiken village, West Khasi Hills was filed before the High Court.
