SHILLONG, SEPT 1: The committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday issued guidelines for transportation of the extracted coal in Meghalaya.
“The Committee has frames the guidelines for removal and transportation of the extracted coal from the six districts that have completed the assessment,” NGT Committee convenor and chairman KS Kropha and MS Rao said.
The six districts include – East Jaintia Hills, West Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills, East Garo Hills and West Garo Hills, for compliance by all concerned parties.
“Upon issue of Notification by the state government allowing transportation of coal, all coal mine owners shall be given 14 (fourteen) working days time for payment of royalty. Royalty will be payable on the quantity assessed/ declared, whichever is higher,” they said.
According to the guidelines, the transport permit against this, however, will be restricted to the assessed quantity only.
The collections will be done district wise. Mine owners who do not comply with this directive are liable for prosecution under Section 21(1) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957/ Section 177 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, it stated.
Meanwhile, the committee also stated that the process of assessment of the coal quantity has revealed certain disturbing trends in respect of declarations made by the coal owners.
“A large number of coal owners have made false declarations without having any coal stock. Some mine owners have grossly over declared their stock,” the committee said adding “These can only be attributed to malafide intent to mine coal despite the interim ban or illegal disposal of the coal after the declaration but before the assessment.”
“Such cases need to be penalized,” it added.
Stating that there are a few cases of gross under declaration as well, the committee however said, “But this is addressed now since the actual quantities have been assessed.”
Informing that the rainfall data for Shillong, Nongstoin and Baghmara has been obtained from the Regional Meteorological Centre, Guwahati for the months from April to August, the committee said, this was felt necessary as inspection and assessment of the extracted coal in the two districts, West Khasi Hills and South Garo Hills could not be completed during the high rainfall month of August 2014 due to adverse weather conditions making the mine locations inaccessible.
“This has also been apprised to the NGT,” it said.
Further, as per the guidelines, the transporter will have to ensure that the truck is loaded to permissible load of 9 MT or less besides, Trucks transporting the coal should have valid vehicle permit from the transport department along with special marking with -“Coal transported under NGT order”.
The taxation/transport gates will maintain separate records of all the coal trucks exiting the state, it stated.
All coal laden trucks will have to pass through one of the following 9 (NINE) designated exit points of the State manned by DMR which include: Dainadubi -North Garo Hills District exiting to Assam, Umling-Ri- Bhoi District exiting to Assam, Garampani-West Jaintia Hills District exiting to Assam, Umkiang-East Jaintia Hills District exiting to Assam, Dawki-East Khasi hills District exiting to Bangladesh, Borsora-South West Khasi Hills exiting to Bangladesh, Cherragoan–South West Khasi Hills exiting to Bangladesh, Bagli-South West Khasi Hills exiting to Bangladesh and Dalu – West Garo Hills exiting to Bangladesh.
Stating that welfare of the labourers as per the labour laws will have to be ensured by the coal owners/ transporters/ employers, the committee said, No child under the age of 18 (eighteen) years shall be employed by any employer including any contractor engaged by the employer in terms of Section 45 of the Mines Act, 1952.
Past experience shows that several illegal / unauthorised check gates operate whenever there is movement of coal trucks, the committee said, the DGP at the State level and the DMs and SPs at the district level will ensure through regular inspections and monitoring that such illegal check gates, wherever existing, are immediately dismantled and no such illegal check gates operate to ensure proper movement of the coal trucks.- By Our Reporter
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