The Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) has carried out aerial surveys of six villagers in South West Khasi Hills district to locate illegal coal mining, sale, and transportation, as well as identify coal stored outside designated depots and coal already seized under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act).
The six villages are Thateja, Pormawdar, Diengngan, Mawhar, Tinpul and Rajaju.
However, the MBDA does not have the required expertise for interpretation of the maps. This was noted by the Justice Katakey committee in its 27th interim report, which was submitted to the Meghalaya High Court on February 7.
The committee has given 15 days time to the Mining and Geology Department and MBDA to interpret and record the findings on the maps and also to make volumetric assessment of coal found in the villages with the help of the expert. The assistance of the North East Space Application Centre (NESAC) could also be sought, the committee added.
On the other hand the Garuda UAV Soft Solutions engaged to conduct aerial survey in East Jaintia Hills, West Jaintia Hills, South Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills Districts has been asked to ensure completion and to submit the final report, including volumetric assessment of the coal found, on or before February 28.
On the closure of openings of abandoned coal mines, the Katakey committee said not a single mine opening has been closed till date and the progress made is very slow.
The closure work was assigned to the Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL) in an area in Sutnga, East Jaintia Hills district and Agremgittim, South Garo Hills district as pilot projects.
The committee said, “This requires urgent implementation, having regard to the fact that in East Jaintia Hills District itself there are more than 22000 mine openings.”
It also suggested setting up of integrated smart check-gates in Borsora, Bagli and Cherragaon to curb illegal mining activities and advised the Secretary Mining and Geology Department to submit a status report on or before February 12.
With a view to protect the seized coal from disappearing, the committee suggested setting up of centralized depots except in South West Khasi Hills (which has only 34.75 MT in Ganibags) and shifting of the entire coal seized under the provisions of MMDR Act, 1957 to the centralized depot urgently.
The committee has recommended immediate initiation of the process for auction of the entire available quantity of re-assessed/re-verified inventoried coal. According to the committee this would also include the quantity of coal to be put up for re-auction after forfeiture of security deposit and initial bid money deposited by the successful auction purchasers due to their failure either to pay the balance bid value and/or to lift the auction purchase coal from the Coal India Limited (CIL) depot.
“…so that the entire process of the auction of re-assessed/re-verified inventoried coal, in terms of the directions issued by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, could be completed immediately,” the Katakey committee said..
It also suggested for immediate finalisation of all the proposals by the Technical Committee as well as by all other concerned authorities so that the amount of Rs. 100 Crore kept in deposit with the CPCB could be spent for the purpose for which it has been kept;
The Katakey committee also recommended serious efforts by the state government for implementation of various projects to provide alternative livelihood to the people affected by mining activities. The committee said providing alternative livelihood is necessary, so that the possibility of continued illegal mining activities in the state could be avoided, as the coal miners may continue to indulge illegal activities for earning their livelihood.
The committee also suggested immediate commencement of implementation of the approved projects to provide alternative livelihood to the people affected by the mining activities approved by the Oversight Committee.
