Shillong, Dec 7: The re-verification of extracted coal before the ban on illegal mining of coal has revealed that there is over 19 lakh MT of coal and not over 32 lakh as stated by the government.
This points out to the missing of 13 lakh MT of coal in course of re-verifying and reassessing the quantity of coal that had been mined prior to the prohibition and that had to be auctioned.
The High Court of Meghalaya heard the pending PIL in this regard on Wednesday and took exception to government ‘playing fast and loose’ with the court.
The court observed that the chief secretary had stated in a report of September 20, 2022 that 32,56,715 MT of coal was available for auction.
The status, after further verification, as indicated in the latest report filed by Justice Katakey, is that prior to the imposition of the ban, the total quantum of coal available was as follows:
(1) East Jaintia Hills – 8,90,670 MT
(2) West Khasi Hills – 3,86,253 MT
(3) South Garo Hills – 3,77,790 MT
(4) South West Khasi Hills – 2,99,545.816 MT
Total – 19,54,258.816 MT
“What is apparent is that in addition to the previously illegally mined coal measuring approximately 19,54,259 MT, a further 13 lakh MT of coal was illegally mined, transported and discovered which the state sought to pass off as coal mined prior to the imposition of the ban”, the court said.
According to the court, there is no doubt, further amounts of coal will be available, in addition to the total quantity of 32.56 lakh MT as indicated in the Chief Secretary’s report of September 20, 2022.
For such purpose, Justice Katakey has suggested drone videography and a meeting in this regard was held on December 2.
It was hoped that the directions issued by Justice Katakey will be adhered to, the court said.
The next hearing on the matter will be held on February 7.
Contempt of court
The court also issued a rule of contempt against the East Jaintia Hills Superintendent of Police (SP) after a report revealed illegal mining of coal being carried out in the district.
The order was passed by the full bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee based on the report sought by Justice BP Katakey from the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills on a news report stating that “wonder caves in Jaintia Hills are at risk from rampant mining”.
The report furnished by the Deputy Commissioner on December 3, revealed attempts at illegal mining of coal in the recent past including blasting that has endangered the Krem Lait Prah cave situated at Shnongriam village, East Jaintia Hills.
The Deputy Commissioner has also reported that directions have been issued to the relevant Magistrate to undertake frequent inspections and to impose prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973.
“It, thus, appears that despite the several orders of this Court issued as a consequence of the ban imposed by the NGT as upheld by the Supreme Court, illegal mining of coal continues in the state with, possible, state participation and even encouragement,” the court said.
It accordingly directed, “Since previous orders of this Court had indicated that the relevant Superintendent of Police would be held in contempt if illegal mining or transportation of illegally mined coal was discovered within his jurisdiction, let a rule of contempt be issued against the Superintendent of Police, East Jaintia Hills based on the report dated December 3, 2022 filed by the Deputy Commissioner of the same district.”
Coke plants and ferro alloys
The court observed that there is a further point which finds mention in the report of Katakey and needs to be noticed.
According to the information furnished by the Secretary, Mining and Geology Department, a large number of coke oven plants and ferro alloys plants are operating in the state but only a limited few have both consent to establish and consent to operate granted by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board.
Apart from the fact that several coke oven and ferro alloys plants are operational without due permission, the source of coal at these plants has neither been identified nor reported on by the state, the court said.
“This has to be immediately done and both the Secretary in the Mining and Geology and the Chief Secretary will be responsible in such regard”, the court said.
The report also said that Justice Katakey will oversee the transportation and sale of even such partof the coal and any further quantity that may be seized by the State as a
consequence of the illegal mining that continues. of transportation and auction of the previously mined coal are continuing as per the timelines indicated by the state.
However, the state said that since an additional direction was issued by Justice Katakey to fit the vehicles transporting the coal via ith GPS devices, it has taken some time. The vehicles have now been fitted with the appropriate device and it is expected that by the end of December, 2022, the bar-chart in such regard would be adhered to, the order said.
