SHILLONG, SEPT 18: The Wildlife and Environment Protection Group (WDPG) has asked the state government to initiate criminal proceedings against errant officials and coal miners for “illegal” coal mining activities in the state despite the ongoing ban imposed by the NGT.
The WDPG formed by a group of individuals who called themselves as ‘Lovers of Nature’ also demanded that audit should also be conducted on all cement factories in East Jaintia Hills District to find out the source of coal being supplied to them.
In a memorandum submitted to the chief minister Conrad K Sangma, members of the Group Sajay Laloo, B Buam and SL Dkhar said, “As the intent of the order passed by the Supreme Court on illegal mining and transportation of mineral is clear, the State of Meghalaya should also initiate criminal proceedings against the errant officials who are responsible for allowing illegal Coal Mining to happen in their jurisdiction.”
“Audit should be immediately conducted on all the Cement Factories in East Jaintia Hills on the source of coal and the quantity they are utilizing on daily basis and existing coal stocked with in their factory campus,” they said.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had imposed a ban on coal mining in Meghalaya since April 17, 2014.
The group said the NGT while disposing off the matter of illegal coal mining in Meghalaya, has in its last order passed on August 31, reiterated all of its previous order and reconfirmed the ban on illegal Coal Mining and transportation of already extracted Coal.
However, it alleged that inspite of the serious effort by the NGT to preserve the Environment, there is brisk coal mining activities and environmental destruction at various places all over the state of Meghalaya.
“Transportation of illegally extracted Coal is going on smoothly through NH 40, 44 and NH 6 in the State. It is surprising to watch all these illegal activities going on smoothly and well within the radar of the government,” the memorandum states.
The Group also lambasted the state government for misleading the Supreme Court by placing false report on the quanity of the already extracted coal which is yet to be transported since “there is no more old coal left”.
Alleging that all the extracted coal which are currently lying at various pit heads are fresh and illegally mined, they said, “Everyday about 130 coal laden trucks are supplying coal illegally to various Cement Industries in East Jaintia Hills. Coal mining is not at all stopped in East Jaintia, West Khasi Hills and South West Khasi Hills District.”
According to them, the officers in the Mining and Geology Department, Forest and Environment, State Pollution Control Board and the District Administrations are not performing their duty honestly in stopping illegal coal mining and enforcing various orders of the NGT.
Stating that there is a strong nexus between the operators of the government weighbridges, government officials posted at checkpoints and coal smugglers, the members of the Group further alleged that around 200 coal laden trucks are leaving the State daily through government checkgates at Ratacherra in East Jaintia Hills.
In Shangbangla Government Checkgate at Ribhoi District, about 150 Coal laden trucks are allowed to ply peacefully without entering the checkgate, they said adding that the role of few government departments is highly dubious in not catching the illegal coal transporters.
They further pointed out that as per the recent sample analysis of coal collected from various locations (pit heads) in Khasi and Jaintia Hills, the report shows that all the coal are fresh with High GCV and less ash contents besides possessing other characteristic features of the freshly mined coal.
“The report may be placed before the Supreme Court in due course as and when required,” they said while also demanding the government to present actual facts before the Supreme Court and refrain from placing fraudulent records on the quantity of extracted Coal.
“It is an embarrassment to claim that Meghalaya was the biggest producer of coal in the country only in the year 2013 and transportation of the coal extracted during 2013 prior to the ban on coal mining is yet to be over till date,” they added.
Meanwhile lauding the MDA government’s initiative in promoting better environment in the State, no plastic zones in Secretariat and one man one tree policy, the members said that an effort to initiate criminal proceedings against the coal Miners who are still mining coal illegally till date and stern action against the government officials will send a strong message to violators that the government is serious on the environmental front and deter others from following the same path.
By Our Reporter
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