SHILLONG, JAN 29: All the coalmine owners have been directed to complete paying the royalty within fourteen days on the extracted coal even as the ban on unscientific coal mining will continue in Meghalaya.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) sat again on Thursday and gave the direction to the coal mine owners.
“We direct all the mine owners to pay the entire amount due on extracted and declared coal within a period of 14 days in lump sum,” Justice UD Salvi said while pronouncing his order during the hearing on Thursday.
Salva said in order to facilitate the process of payment of such royalty, the NGT has also directed the mine owners to process the payment via RGTS bank to bank transfers adding that Directorate of Mineral Resources (DMR) department is directed to issue the challan for the coal assessed for the purpose of transportation.
“There shall be no further grant of time on this count,” Justice Salvi declared.
Government counsel Ranjan Mukherjee told reporters after the hearing that the court has decided to extend the time for payment of royalty on the extracted and declared coal for another 14 days following the expiry of the 45 days given in the last order issued by the tribunal.
Mukherjee, however, said, “So far as the transportation of coal is concern, it will remain up to February 11, as the matter was not argued during the hearing.” He informed that the revenue generated from the extracted and declared coal is Rs 77 crores approximately out of the estimated amount of Rs 300 crores.”
Earlier during the hearing, Mineral Resources department director RP Marak informed the tribunal that the state government had collected royalty of only Rs 77.25 crore for the assessed and transported 9.76 MT coal of the 1102950 MT coal allowed to be transported.
When asked, the government counsel said, “The ban imposed by the NGT on unscientific rat hole coal mining will continue in the state of Meghalaya.”
The court has fixed April 16, as the date for its next sitting.
Meanwhile, the NGT directed the state government of Meghalaya to complete the process of installing and operationalizing of weighbridges at Karampani and Dalu within March 31, 2015.
In its earlier order the tribunal had directed the state government to install 11 weighbridges which are supposed to be operationalised within this month. They include Ratacherra, Dawki, Karampani, Bagli, Cherragoan, Borsora, Mawpu, Dalu, Dainadubi, Umling and Gasaupara.
Earlier, the government counsel informed that the reason for the delay in the operationalizing of the two weighbridges at Karampani and Dalu was because there were no bidders.
NGT has also stressed the need to hasten up the process of operationalizing the weighbridges in order to facilitate the smooth transportation of extracted coal.
The tribunal has also appointed five independent environment commissioners to conduct independent inspections at the weigh bridges and mines and see if the orders passed by the tribunal are being followed in letter and spirit.
Advocate J B Kharbhih, Environmentalist Rosanna and Vikash Pradhan and Naba Bhattacharjee and former police officer K Rymbui were directed to report to the Tribunal in the next hearing scheduled for April 16 next.
Earlier, the tribunal had also directed the Meghalaya Urban Development Authority to take such measures to remove unauthorised structures constructed on the banks of the Umshyrpi and Wah Umkhrah in the state capital within three months and in accordance with law.
The SP East Khasi Hills was also directed to provide necessary police assistance to the MUDA in the process.
Justice UD Salvi also recommended formation of a unified platform of all stakeholders including the Shillong Municipal Board, the Cantonment Board and the Khasi Hills Autonomous to be headed by the East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner for effective implementation of remedial measures.- By Our Reporter
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