Coal ban continues, new committee formed

SHILLONG, AUG 1: Failure to submit the report by the committee constituted on June 9  headed by the Director of Mines on the coal that had already been extracted forced the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to reconstituted  a new committee headed by Meghalaya additional chief secretary KS Kropha during its hearing on Friday at the Meghalaya high court premises.

The failure of the committee constituted on June 9 to follow the directive of the NGT also resulted in the delay for the transportation of coal already extracted in the different coal mines in Meghalaya.

The NGT also decided that the interim order of April 17 banning rat hole coal mining will continue in Meghalaya to ensure that no unscientific, unlicensed and illegal coal mining without seeking environmental clearance in any part of Meghalaya.

Meanwhile the new committee has been directed to meet within a week from Friday. The committee was also asked to provide a complete scene and verification of the extracted coal lying in various mining sites in Meghalaya.

The new committee beside Kropha comprises of principal secretary (mining) MS Rao IAS, senior scientist of the Central Pollution Board deputed to north eastern states, member secretary of the Meghalaya state pollution control board and a professor to be nominated by the director of the IIT Guwahati having expertise in mining activities.

According to  the NGT hearing chaired by Justice Swatanter Kumar on Friday it was  the June 9 committee cannot be permitted to carry forward its functions.

It learnt that the extracted coal assessed by the previous committee is 37,36,352 MT  worth Rs 1,800 crore. However 85,87,147 MT  of extracted coal has been identified but could not be evaluated.

Justice Swatanter Kumar has directed the new committee to provide detailed comprehensive guidelines related to removal and transportation of extracted coal. The direction also says that it must ensure proper checks for removal of extracted coal in terms of quality and quantity.

The NGT direction also said that within two weeks, a comprehensive guidelines should be uploaded on the website of the Meghalaya government and circulated to the deputy commissioners, superintendent of police of various districts and mining organizations.

The NGT also observeed that the government can allow removal of coal subject to strict adherence to guidelines framed by the committee after two weeks.

In case of difficulty in transporting the coal, the tribunal  said the committee can approach the NGT at New Delhi any time to ensure that there is no prejudice while protecting the environment.

Further, the NGT directed the deputy commissioners (DCs) and superintendents of police (SPs) to take the responsibility of ensuring compliance of the tribunal’s order.

The next hearing will be held on October 7 and 8.

Meanwhile, the Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM) has staged a sit in demonstration in the city when the hearing of the NGT was going on to protest against the sudden ban of coal mining in the state as it said that it has affected the livelihood of the people depending on such activity.

Around 30 central executive committee (CEC) members of the HANM took part in the protest braving the heavy rain.

“We totally disagree with such sudden imposition of the ban on coal mining in the state,” HANM president Lamphrang Kharbani told reporters.

Kharbani, however, made it clear that by saying that they are against the ban it does not necessarily mean that they are not at all concern about the environment.  He said the state government must come up with measures to preserve and protect the environment which it has failed to do so for decades.- By Our Reporter