SHILLONG:
The Mining and Geology department has warned that any coal dump found lying outside the department’s re-inventoried list and specified coordinates will be seized and appropriate action will be taken against the owner under relevant provisions of the MMDR Act, 1957.
This was informed by the Secretary in charge of Mining and Geology E Kharmalki in a public notice issued on May 16.
The notice was issued to all coal owners of the state whose coal has been re-assessed/re-inventoried by means of drone survey, physical verification, or a combination of both, during 2022 – 2023.
“In case no coal or volume lower than the reassessed coal of a particular coal owner is detected, necessary action shall be initiated against the said coal owner as per relevant provisions of the MMDR Act, 1957,” it added.
Further, it stated that “Once the timeline for auction of the 14,10,710.41 lakhs MT coal is completed, all remaining coal dumped/stacked or found lying either within or outside the specific co-ordinates shall be confiscated and taken into the custody of the government and disposed of through open auction by the government and proceeds accruing from the such auction shall be deposited as government revenue, at the sole risk and responsibility of the owner concerned, who shall have no claim whatsoever over the sale value accruing from the auction.”
The notice also asked all coal owners of re-inventoried/re-assessed coal, yet to be auctioned, and whose coal falls within the respective co-ordinates and duly re-inventoried to apply for transit pass (TP) immediately with respective deputy commissioner, in order to transport such coal from mine/pit head to designated CIL depots.
The Mining and Geology department said out of the 14,10,710.41 MT, the volume of 5,95,323.775 MT of coal has already been auctioned by CIL and the process of lifting, transportation etc, from designated depots, is in progress.
The notice said the total volume of coal after the conclusion of the exercise (re-assessed/re-inventoried by means of drone survey, physical verification, or combination of both) conducted in the entire state (during the year 2022-2023) has been found to be 14,10,710.41 MT.
“The balance quantity of 8,15,386.635 MT of coal will have to be put up for auction within the timeline specified,” it said.