Rs 132.25 crores coal royalty

SHILLONG, MAR 10: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma said that over 75 lakh metric tons of extracted and assessed coal are lying in the various depots after the grace period granted by National Green Tribunal (NGT) ended. Replying to a query raised by HSPDP legislator KP Pangniang during the question hour on Tuesday during the ongoing budget session, Sangma told the house,  “Of the total quantum of extracted coal assessed which is 87, 13, 103, 221 metric tons, a total of 75, 56, 360, 221metric tons of coal is lying in the various depots.”

Sangma, however, informed the house that the total tonnage of coal which was transported from the various depots of the state within the period allowed by the NGT is 11, 56, 743 metric tons.
He added “A total of Rs 132.25 crores was collected by the government as royalty from the transported coal.”

Pangniang also sought clarification from the chief minister on the outstanding shares from royalty on coal due to the autonomous district councils (ADCs). On this, Sangma said that so far as royalty shares for the ADCs is concerned, the matter is being workout by the department concerned to facilitate the release of the shares to them as was done from time to time.- By Our Reporter