File Photo of Coal mining in Meghalaya

Shillong Jan 7: The Meghalaya government is likely to appeal in Supreme Court against an order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that directed the state government to deposit Rs 100 crore with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for restoration of environment.

The NGT issued this directive on January 4 following a report submitted by its Judicial Committee which revealed that extraction of coal was going in the state on despite the ban imposed by the NGT.

Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma on Monday said that the NGT order said that the amount should be collected from the miners and from other areas.

“We have not been able to go into the entire thing because we have just got the copy of the order. The law department is going through it, and we are going to examine and see how we can take this further or may be appeal to the NGT or Supreme Court and decide how to move forward on this. At the same time we do have resources in term of land reclamation that was there. So we will look at option that we have, and more importantly we will try to appeal that this particularly case may be reconsidered,” Conrad stated.

Reacting to allegations by the Leader of Opposition that the MDA government was allowing illegal mining, Conrad said, “as a government, we have been working tirelessly to ensure that coal does open up, as we want things to be legalized. We feel that livelihood of the people depends on this, and the state’s revenue also depends on this. So we as a government have been working very aggressively to legalize this entire mining issue. When it comes to illegal mining, our government has been very clear we will not allow any kind of illegal mining. “

Conrad informed that more than a 1000 cases since 2014 were registered against different individuals and organizations that have been doing such kind of things and the district administrations have been told to take stern action.

“Regarding what the Leader of Opposition says, I don’t want to comment, but our government is very clear that we are going to ensure these activities do not take place, and at the same time we are working towards legalizing and formalizing things,” the Chief Minister said.

On seizure of coal-laden trucks without documents in Assam, he said that without getting any official communication from Assam on what has happened, it is inappropriate to comment.

Informing that there are sporadic incidences that took place where individuals were mining, the Chief Minister said that immediate action has been taken.

“Whenever there is information that illegal mining is taking place, we immediately act on that information. But if you ask, are illegal activities going on, we don’t allow it and as a government, there is no question of allowing such activities. One must realize that it is not easy also to go and tell the people to stop mining whose livelihood has been snatched away. Even if 1000 people are monitoring, it is a very challenging to go in. We are aware of this, and we are taking more measures and I had a review meeting with the Director General of Police, and mining officials on this issue,” he said.

On the death of two labourers in a coal quarry at Mooknor of Jalyiah village in East Jaiñtia Hills district, the Chief Minister express doubt if it the incident was related to coal mining.

“I can tell you that the situation and circumstances are quite mysterious. At the same time, these miners have been missing for a long time. I think it will not be correct for us to immediately connect their death to any kind of mining activity. There are still reports coming in, and investigation is still on as to how these bodies landed up there, how two of them were there, and how come nobody else saw these bodies. The two bodies were found after many days which mean there is still a question mark to the circumstances under which these bodies were found. It is too early to comment on it, but we are examining the matter,” the Chief Minister stated.