Shillong, March 24: Justice (retd) BP Katakey, who is heading the committee appointed by the Meghalaya High Court, on Monday sought clarification on the report of the aerial survey conducted within one kilometer radius of the coal dumps found in four districts of East Jaintia Hills, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills and South Garo Hills.
Addressing media persons, Katakey said the two issues were taken up and discussed in today’s meeting.
“We had directed the government to conduct the aerial survey within one kilometer radius of the coal dumps found (in the four districts). The government in 2019 submitted an affidavit before the Supreme Court indicating the coordinates where dumps are available. Based on that, we have directed to conduct a survey other than the coal which has already been inventorized. We want to see whether within that one kilometre radius there is coal other than inventorized coal,” he said.
“The report (on the aerial survey) has been submitted on March 19 and it was discussed in today’s meeting but I want certain clarification and I have asked them to give me those clarification, which I expected to get tomorrow,” Katakey added.
On the complaints filed by four individuals against illegal coal mining in South Garo Hills, Katakey said that the inquiry report on the matter has been submitted by a committee headed by Naba Bhattacharjee to him.
“(Since) there is further inquiry to be conducted, the government has directed the deputy commissioner of South Garo Hills to conduct physical verification and submit a report within a week. Therefore, that report we are expecting after a week,” he added.
On the start of scientific coal mining in Meghalaya, Katakey said, “There has to be an authority to oversee it. Nobody can rule out the possibility if the illegal mining of coal is here in Meghalaya but one thing I have been told that in permission and whatever permit is given for scientific mining there is a clause I have not seen it but I have been told where the responsibility has been fixed on scientific miners to close all pitheads found within one km radius of their operational area.”
He maintained that any coal found outside the centralized depots set up by Coal India Limited (CIL) are illegal in the state of Meghalaya.
“Therefore, any coal found other than the centralized depot or designated coal is illegal coal and therefore, it is the government’s responsibility to act as per MMDR Act.”
