 BP Katakey informed that the Supreme Court in its judgement had said that the state government will be the custodian of 32 lakh metric tonnes of coal, and the government has the responsibility to protect the entire quantity of coal.){kind=link}
SHILLONG:
Justice (Retired) BP Katakey, on July 27, informed that the state currently has about 3.5 lakh metric tonnes (MT) of coal available for auction in different coal depots, and a further 1.5 metric tonnes will arrive in next 10 days, taking the total to 5 lakh MT that will be auctioned possibly in the next two weeks.
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), said that about 18 lakh metric tonnes of coal have disappeared, and the government has been asked to initiate the process to find out on the missing coal.
“The Supreme Court affidavit declared that there are 32 lakh odd metric tonnes of coal, one committee found that it was 19 lakh metric tonnes, and a joint survey says that it is 14 lakhs. Whether it is 14 or 19 lakhs MT, the fact remains that it is not 32 lakhs. So therefore, whatever may be the missing quantity, we have to find out how it disappeared,” he said.
Katakey informed that the Supreme Court in its judgement had said that the state government will be the custodian of 32 lakh metric tonnes of coal, and the government has the responsibility to protect the entire quantity of coal.
“I have asked the government if any steps have been taken on the missing quantity of coal, and if any persons are behind it,” he said.
Asked if illegal coal mining still goes on unabated in the state, Katakey informed that some transportation still goes on.
“Police have registered a number of cases for illegal mining and transportation of coal, had there been no illegal transposition of coal, there would have been any occasion to register any case,” he said.
Asked about his findings from Garo Hills, Katakey informed that a large quantity of illegal coal was found at Gasuapara, and the mining and geology department has been asked to make an assessment of the coal available.
“According to the mining department, approximately 20-21 thousand metric tonnes of seized coal is lying in the Gasuapara area of Garo Hills,”he said.
Asked about the illegal coal plants in the state, Katakey informed that in West Khasi Hills district 9 chimneys have been demolished, in East Jaintia Hills 5 to 6 chimneys have been demolished, and in the meantime the Supreme Court has stayed the demolition of chimneys.
He further informed that there are more than 60 illegal coke plants in the state.