Shillong, Dec 4: Only around 20 percent of the Rs 100 crore that the state has parked with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has been earmarked for different proposals, the Meghalaya High Court-appointed committee on illegal coal mining has said in its 34th interim report.
The Rs 100 crore was deposited by the Meghalaya government under the Meghalaya Environment Protection and Restoration Fund (MEPRF) in 2019 as per the direction of the Supreme Court for the purpose of restoration of the environment.
Proposals to utilise these funds have been received, with Rs 17.52 crore already sanctioned by the oversight committee and another Rs 2.69 crore pending before the oversight committee. The committee recommended that the Mining and Geology Department should take immediate steps for obtaining proposals from the concerned departments/agencies for the remaining amount so that it can be deposited with the CPCB for utilisation rather than keeping the money in a bank account.
The committee also received new complaints relating to illegal mining activities in East and West Jaintia Hills as well as West Khasi Hills. The committee also received a specific complaint from Mawlai MLA Brightstarwell Marbaniang about supposed illegal coal mining in Lumbangla village, East Jaintia Hills.
The committee in its 34th interim committee report submitted to the High Court stated that it had received information in the form of complaints on November 2, relating to illegal mining, loading and transportation of coal in East Jaintia Hills as well as illegal transportation of such coal via Nartiang in West Jaintia Hills and illegal mining activities near Nongstoiñ Civil Hospital in West Khasi Hills.
The committee requested the Chief Secretary through an email dated November 4 to ensure conduct of an inquiry by the chairman of the independent committee for auction of coal in Meghalaya, constituted by the government relating to such allegations.
The committee also recommended immediate initiation of the process of auction of re-assessed/re-verified inventoried coal by Coal India Ltd (CIL) with a view to dispose of entire such coal lying in different CIL designated depots without any further delay.
The committee also wants an inquiry to be conducted by the Secretary of the Mining and Geology Department as to the shortage of 40,554.72 tonnes of re-assessed/reverified inventoried coal in the CIL designated depots in East Jaintia Hills and to submit a report in that regard within a fortnight.
The committee also wants immediate release of the required funds to the district administration of East Jaintia Hills and West Khasi Hills for demolition of 16 coke oven plants in East Jaintia Hills and 17 in West Khasi Hills.
The committee also recommended the completion of the process of recovery of the amount of Rs. 530.59 lakh from 15 coke oven plants and Rs 1.31 crore from Shree Sakambari Ferro Alloy Pvt Ltd urgently. “A status report in that respect be submitted within 3 weeks,” the committee stated.
The committee also recommended that all the entry and exit points of the state have to be personally supervised by the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of each district to prevent the transportation of illegally mined coal.
