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Shillong, Oct 5: The Supreme Court has set November 12 as the final hearing on the ongoing ban on coal mining imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Meghalaya.

The order was passed during the hearing on the matter held in New Delhi on Friday. Sources informed that the apex court has fixed November 12 as the final hearing date on the matter.

According to sources, this was after the state government has submitted an affidavit on the status of the mining policy and mining plan before the apex court.

It was also informed that the state government had mentioned in its affidavit that it is ready to take up mining in a scientific manner in the state.

It may be mentioned here that the NGT had imposed a blanket ban on unscientific rathole coal mining in the state since April 17, 2014.

Meanwhile, sources further informed that the Supreme Court did not allow the application seeking for transportation of the already extracted coal in the state.

Earlier while disposing of the coal mining case in Meghalaya, the NGT in its order passed on August 31, which declared that coal ban will continue in the state, had also directed the Independent Committee headed by a former judge of the Guwahati High Court to submit its report on March 6, next year.

“Only last question which remains is of restoration of the environment and rehabilitation of the victims for which funds are available. We are of the view that for this task, it will appropriate that we constitute an independent Committee,” it had stated in the order.

The Committee may also supervise any issue arising out of receivership/custodianship of the already extracted coal, including any environmental issues which any arise out of storage of the extracted material and the steps required to be taken for the purpose.

Aggrieved by the NGT’s order, a special leave petition (SPL) was recently filed by the coal miners under the banner of the State Co-ordination Committee of Coal Owners, Miners and Dealers Forum (SCCCOMDF) before the Supreme Court.