The District Magistrate of East Jaintia Hills has banned any new mining of coal and transport of the mineral in or through the district.
In a prohibitory order dated March 22 but shared with the press today, the DM said that his office has started the process of ascertaining the legality of coal dumps in the district and seizure of ones that are found to be illegal.
The order prohibited “any act of mining of coal and illegal storage, dumping of coal in any location(s) within this district” and “transportation of coal from and to any part of this district and beyond”.
The order, under Section 144 of the CrPC, came into effect on the day it was issued.
