SHILLONG:
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, on March 22, said that the government is serious about checking and effectively containing illegal transportation of charcoal in the state for which the government had notified Meghalaya Charcoal (Control of Production, Storage, Trade and Transport) Rules, 2008 which was further amended in 2019.
Sangma was replying to a call attention notice moved by Nongpoh legislator Mayralborn Syiem. who referred to a report of a vernacular daily about the forest department unable to check the illegal transportation of charcoal in the state.
Stating that the government is aware of illegal production and transport of charcoal and has been leaving no stone unturned to prevent the same, Sangma said that the rules are in place and that the rules inter alia regulate production, stocking, sale, purchase, import and export of charcoal.
“Under these Rules the producers and stockists of charcoal are required to apply for registration to the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) concerned and renewal of such registration could be done after a period of 1 (one) year with the prior approval of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. In the event of contravention of these Rules, the license of the registered producers or stockists is liable to cancellation. These registered producers or stockists are also required to maintain correct and true records in respect of production, receipt, disposal and trade of charcoal,” Sangme said.
Sangma further informed the house that several proactive measures are being undertaken by the department to contain illegal transport of charcoal by way of constituting patrolling teams of forest staff to detect illegal transport of charcoal, drawing offence reports, prosecuting the violators in competent Courts of law, and seizing illegally transported or illegally stocked charcoal etc. The Ferro Alloy Industries, which are consumers of charcoal, are regularly inspected for any illegal storage and illegal use of charcoal in their plant.
Giving details about the seizure of illegal charcoal in the state, Sangma said that during the last 5 (five) years, 23 cases have been filed in Court of law for illegal transport, production or storage of charcoal in Ri-Bhoi and West Khasi Hills districts.
“In West Khasi Hills District alone, thirteen cases were filed in 2022 for illegal production of charcoal. Apart from these, two cases have been compounded for such offences in Ri Bhoi district. Further, a total quantity of 95 metric tonnes of charcoal has been seized during the last 5 (five) years and a total sum of ₹. 2,60,000 has been realised as compounding fees. Recently, the DFO Nongstoin has attempted to control illegal production and transport of charcoal by requesting the District Magistrate to promulgate Section 144 CrPC in West Khasi Hills district. The West Khasi Hills Forest Division has also conducted awareness camps in the villages besides use of social media to spread the message of importance of conservation of our forest resources.” Sangma informed the house.
Replying further, the chief minister stated that para 3 (1) (b) of the 6th Schedule of the Constitution restricts the jurisdiction of the State Forest Department in the management of forests to only State-owned forests viz., Reserved Forests, Protected Forests, National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries.
He said that Management of forests other than State owned forests etc. falls within the jurisdiction of the Autonomous District Councils, and checking forest produce from such areas are to be done by Autonomous District Councils.
“The District Councils in exercise of jurisdiction conferred under these provisions of the Constitution have legislated their respective forest laws for e.g. the Khasi Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Councils have legislated United Khasi- Jaintia Hills Autonomous District (Management and Control of Forest) Act, 1958. Thus, vast forest areas, which are under the private or community ownership, fall under the jurisdiction of the Autonomous District Councils who are also expected to contribute their bit to control illegal production and transport of charcoal. It would be worthwhile to state that no case of illegal production of charcoal has been detected in either Reserved Forests or Protected Forests in Ri-Bhoi District and West Khasi Hills District,” Sangma said.
Drawing the attention of the house further, Sangma informed that the NGO Meghalaya Clean and Green Organisation has complained to the Chief Forest Officer, KHADC, against the illegal transportation of charcoal, and the State Forest Department would also be more alert and vigilant in these matters and continue to inspect the vehicles plying through their check gates to detect vehicles carrying illegal consignment of charcoal and take appropriate action against such illegal consignments and perpetrators of such offence in accordance with law.