SC allows transportation of over 70,000 mts coal till May 31

SHILLONG, MAY 10: The Supreme Court has allowed for transportation of over 75,000 metric tons of extracted coal till May 31, with a rider to the state government to ensure no other coal is transported or mined under the ‘guise’ of this permission.

The judgment was passed by a bench headed by Justice Ahok Bhushan on Friday. It was also based on the Katakey Committee Report.

“We, thus, permit the transportation of the coal of 75050 Mts with regard to which transportation challans have already been issued,” the bench said.

“We are further of the view that for the said transportation of quantity of 75,050 Mts, the State of Meghalaya has to take necessary precaution that under the guise of this permission no other coal is transported or mined,” it said.

The bench said the actual transportation after due verification along with a verification certificate by an officer not below the rank of a deputy commissioner be permitted from May 17 to May 31, while adding “After May 31, no transportation shall be permitted.”

The Katakey Committee Report submitted on March 31, has referred to the quantity, which was permitted to be transported by order dated December 4, 2018.

The report further noticed that in pursuance of the order, challan for transport of coal was issued for 1,76,655 Mts in pursuance of which 94,099 Mts of coal has already been transported and what is left to be transported was 75,050 Mts of coal.

The bench also said, “We are conscious that if permission for transport of coal is granted by this Court, there is grave danger of illegal mining. We notice that the ban on mining has already been imposed by the National Green Tribunal, which order has not yet been interfered by this Court.”

It further directed the state government to finalise the mechanism for ensuring verification and transportation of coal as permitted and publicise for the benefit of all concerned within a week.

The state authority was also directed to maintain the details while permitting transportation of in different registers which include information of the quantity of coal, details of payment, person who is transporting the coal, person who is owner of the coal and date of verification certificate.

The blanket ban on unscientific coal mining in Meghalaya was imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for the past five years.

By Our Reporter