Shillong, March 25: Over 1.92 lakh metric tons of illegally mined coal have been detected in four coal-rich districts of the state as per aerial survey conducted by a leading drone survey and inspection company – Garuda.
This was revealed by Justice (retd) BP Katakey, who is heading the high court constituted one man committee, after chairing a meeting on Tuesday. Addressing media persons, Katakey said, “The report of the aerial survey conducted by Garuda has been submitted and according to the report, in four districts – East Jaintia Hills, South West Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills and South Garo Hills, they found little over 1.92 lakh metric tons of coal other than the inventoried coal.”
“I have asked them furnish certain clarification which I am expecting today or by tomorrow. So therefore, according to them other than inventoried coal there are more coal available within 1 km radius. Therefore, in today’s discussion I have requested the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of the concerned districts as well as concerned departments to be more vigilant about the availability of coal other than this 1.92 lakh metric tons of coal,” he said.
Katakey will submit his report to the Meghalaya High Court based on this survey report, and his overall impression of the situation of illegal coal mining in the State.
Katakey also impressed that “any coal found other than CIL designated depot is illegal.”
“I am reiterating that any coal found other than the coal available in the CIL designated depots are illegally mined coal and action has to be taken under the MMDR Act means FIRs have to be registered, coal has to be seized. The entire coal has to be put into auction subject to the permission to be granted by the respective courts of law and the entire deposits will go to the state’s exchequer, not a single of it will go to the coal miners,” he further added.
He further informed that the prospective licenses have already been issued and another four have also been granted – total eight. Of the eight, environmental clearances have been granted to three and five are yet to get the environmental clearance; out of those three environmental clearance projects, one has started their operation.
