Shillong, Dec 11: Police have seized 4800 MT of illegally mined coal dumped near and behind Don Bosco College, Byndihati, East Jaintia Hills.
The government informed this to the High Court of Meghalaya during the hearing of the pending PIL on coal mining issue, on Monday.
As per the court summon, the Superintendent of Police, East Jaintia Hills was present and he informed the court that adequate steps have been taken to address the issue of illegal coal mining and that the ‘coal that has been noted in the site as mentioned in the 18th interim report amounting to 4800 MT has been seized’.
The report had also mentioned together with the photograph regarding coal dumped around the under construction weighbridge.
The Advocate General also told the court that the entire process with regard to the proceedings as mentioned in the 18th
interim report is still before Justice B.P. Katakey (retired), who is yet to
file the next report.
The court noted that without the latest report, no conclusive order can be passed at this stage.
Hence, the matter was fixed for hearing again on December 19 to await the report of
Justice Katakey on the report that had been called for from the Deputy Commissioner and other authorities with regard to the coal mentioned in the 18th interim report.
The government also informed the court that 5,50,000 MT remains to be transported and auctioned by Coal India and that as per
the directives of Katakey, the
same should be completed within December, 2023.
The court expected that the schedule will be adhered to and the remaining coal will be finally disposed of by the end of the year.
The personal appearance of the Superintendent of Police, East
Jaintia Hills for the time being was dispensed with, to await further developments in the matter.
Court receives Katakey report
Later, at the conclusion of the proceedings, the court master informed that the 19th interim report has just been received from the Katakey
“In view of the impending vacations and the limited court days available, let a copy of the report be circulated which may be obtained by
the parties from the registry in the course of the day. It is expected that on the next date, clarification will be available as to the findings, if any, in the said report”, said the division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice HS Thangkhiew and Judge W. Diengdoh
