SHILLONG, MAY 4: The Justice BP Katakey Committee has recommended the constitution of a High Level Monitoring Committee to oversee implementation of projects and utilisation of over Rs 465 crore available for environmental restoration and mitigation of damage from illegal coal mining in Meghalaya.
In its 37th interim report submitted to the Meghalaya High Court, the Committee said a monitoring body is needed “to monitor proper implementation of the proposals and utilization of fund, release of which has been approved by the Oversight Committee constituted by the NGT.”
The funds include “Rs. 100 Crore in deposit with Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Rs. 365,84,78,884 available in Meghalaya Environment Protection and Restoration Fund (MEPRF).”
The Committee noted that the Oversight Committee has already “approved sanctioned Rs. 17,52,34,294/- out of Rs. 100 Crore in deposit with CPCB and Rs. 48,47,53,416/-, out of the amount in deposit in MEPRF.”
The proposed High Level Monitoring Committee should be “headed by an officer not below the rank of the Additional Chief Secretary,” with the Secretary, Finance Department; Secretary, Mining and Geology Department; DMR and the “Head(s) of the concerned departments, Govt. of Meghalaya which have been given the responsibility of implementation of the project(s), as the members.”
The panel said “necessary action based on the report of the High Level Monitoring Committee, relating to non-implementation /delay in implementation of the projects, if any, and non-utilization/mis-utilization/mis-appropriation of fund, if any, by the appropriate authority” must be taken on priority.
The Committee also called for “immediate submission of appropriate proposals for implementation of projects out of the remaining amount of Rs. 100 Crore in deposit with the CPCB and Rs. 365,84,78,884/- available in MEPRF.”
This is to be ensured by the Secretary, Mining and Geology Department, “so that the fund available can be utilized for the benefit of the people of Meghalaya in general and the persons who are affected because of the illegal coal mining activities in particular.
