Justice (retd) Katakey for an authority to oversee scientific coal mining
Shillong, Mar 24: The justice (retd) BP Katakey committee on Monday discussed the report submitted by the state government on aerial survey of coal dumps and sought certain clarifications on it, “expected” to be replied by Tuesday.
As sought by the committee appointed by the Meghalaya High Court, the state government submitted the report on aerial survey conducted within one km radius of coal dumps found in four districts – East Jaintia Hills, West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills and South Garo Hills.
The survey was meant to find coal, if any, other than which has already been inventoried, within the one-km radius.
“The government in 2019 submitted an affidavit before the Supreme Court indicating the coordinates where dumps are available. Based on that, we directed to conduct a survey… We want to see whether within that one-km radius, there is coal other than inventoried coal,” justice (retd) Katakey told reporters after the meeting.
The report, which was submitted on March 19, was discussed in Monday’s meeting.
“But, I want certain clarification and I have asked them to give me those clarification, which I expect to get tomorrow,” Katakey added.
On complaints filed by four individuals against illegal coal mining in South Garo Hills, Katakey said the inquiry report on the matter was submitted to him by a committee headed by Naba Bhattacharjee.
“(Since) there is further inquiry to be conducted, the government has directed the deputy commissioner of South Garo Hills to conduct physical verification and submit a report within a week,” he added.
The report is expected after a week, he said.
Meanwhile, he underscored the need for an authority to oversee scientific coal mining in the state, as, he mentioned, “Nobody can rule out the possibility if the illegal mining of coal in Meghalaya.”
However, he appreciated a clause that he was “told about” the miners taking up scientific coal mining made responsible for closing all pitheads found within one-km radius of their respective operational area.
He maintained that any coal found outside the centralised depots set up by Coal India Limited (CIL) are illegal in the state.
“Therefore, any coal found other than the centralised depot or designated coal is illegal coal and therefore, it is the government’s responsibility to act as per MMDR Act,” he asserted.
