Katakey seeks photos of 32 L tons of extracted coal

SHILLONG:

Justice (Retd) BP Katakey has asked deputy commissioners to take photographs of the 32 lakh metric tons of already declared coal lying in different parts of the state while seeking all details.

Justice Katakey, who has been appointed by the Meghalaya High Court for recommending the measures to be taken by the state in compliance with the directions issued by the Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT), including the sale of already extracted coal, had convened a series of meetings with officials of the government departments concerned in this regard.

“In one such meeting recently, he asked the respective deputy commissioners to take photographs of all the 32 lakh metric tons of coal, which was declared in the affidavit submitted before the Supreme Court, and in case the coal is found missing, the owners will have to pay,” a source said. 

The source said the photographs will have to be taken in presence of officials from the Coal India Limited (CIL) and Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB).

Moreover, MSPCB has been asked to register cases against illegal stocking of coal for violating laws concerning air and water.

Sources said that Justice Katakey is monitoring the entire issue and has set timelines for compliance with the directions of the Supreme Court and NGT.

He has asked that auctioning of the 32 lakh metric tons of coal be completed within one year. However, the state government has sought more time citing that it is not possible since it has to be transported from different locations to the central coal depot which will take time.

There are 17-18 central coal depots set up by the Mining and Geology department in East Jaintia Hills, South West Khasi Hills, South Garo Hills and other places after obtaining the consent to establish and consent to operate from the pollution control board. Such central coal depots are have weighbridges.

Further, the state government has proposed to set up 18 integrated check gates for online monitoring of coal trucks. 

Some of the integrated check gates at Umling, Dawki and Dainadubi are ready to be commissioned while four-five other gates are still awaiting electricity connection and some cannot be completed due to unavailability of land.