SHILLONG:
The state government is not yet decided on whether to go by the Meghalaya High Court’s order to deploy Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to check illegal transportation of coal, but is “seriously examining” it.
“I can’t say whether we will follow the direction of the high court, but right now the government is examining this issue very seriously,” Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who is also in charge of Home (Police), told reporters on March 16.
Asked if the government would appeal against the court order, the deputy chief minister, however, said, “Right now I cannot say anything on that because the government is still examining the issue.”
On March 13, the court had ordered deployment of 10 companies of CISF to check illegal transportation of coal.
This was after the state had indicated that a sum of Rs 316 crore would be required for construction of quarters and barracks if 100 companies of CRPF were to be deployed in the state.
In its order, the full bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee had said, “Instead, it appears to be fair and reasonable to this Court to deploy 10 companies, not of CRPF but of Central Industrial Security Force. That is because, as the Central government duly points out, the CRPF functions under the command of the State police whereas CISF can function independently.”
On a query from the court, it was submitted on behalf of the central government that CISF would be able to handle the aspect of checking goods vehicles.
“Considering the total area in the State and that some of the remote pockets do not have roads or even the menace of illegal coal mining and its transportation, 10 companies of CISF should be enough to check the vehicles and completely arrest the illegal transportation of coal,” the Court had said.
“While CISF is engaged in checking the vehicles, there is no doubt that it would also check for contraband and ensure that the goods vehicles conform to the weight limits for plying on the State and national highways in Meghalaya,” it had added.
The court also sought to know the logistics and formalities for 10 companies of CISF to be deployed for the purpose of checking the illegal transportation of coal in the state.
“The process may not last several years as the State proposes to open up scientific mining and grant licenses therefore in accordance with law which may make illegal coal mining an unattractive proposition thereafter,” it had said.