Shillong, Aug 1: The Meghalaya High Court has asked the state government to keep vigil on a cement company, which was accused of illegal mining in East Jaintia Hills.
The court on Friday issued the order while disposing of a public interest litigation (PIL) that made the allegations against Amrit Cement Industries Ltd.
In its order, the division bench comprising chief justice IP Mukerji and justice W Diengdoh directed the state government to ensure that the company adheres to its mining license terms.
The court also asked the government to publish a certification in every three months after due enquiry on the company’s adherence to the terms of mining licence to ensure that no illegal mining of minerals has taken place in the state.
However, the state’s advocate general while vouching for the company said the PIL petitioner Ranjit Chandra Goswami acted on behalf of vested interests belonging to rival groups involved in the same line of business.
The petitioner alleged that the Amrit Cement mined limestone illegally even before obtaining the mining licence on 11 January 2023, but the government absolved the company of the allegations.
However, the petitioner contested this finding, prompting the court to seek further clarification.
The advocate general, strongly supporting the state government said the company purchased limestone from private vendors before obtaining the licence.
He also submitted that the issue whether sale could be made by individual miners of this state to purchasers in Bangladesh was before the Supreme Court.
