Shillong July 20: A meeting between Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K. Sangma and officials of Coal India Limited was held at Kolkata on Saturday and discussed the Supreme Court order on auctioning of extracted coal in Meghalaya.

Conrad said that he had a meeting with Coal India officials, including its chairman, and the meeting was very positive in which Coal India and the state government would try to find out the most practical manner to dispose 32 lakh metric tonnes extracted coal in the state.

“Keeping in mind challenges that Coal India may face, they look at the state government to play an important role so that the most efficient way could be worked out,” he said.

Stating that a detailed report would be made, Conrad said that the state government has been asked to come out with the concerns by also looking at different rates of coal, do a survey and submit the list of coal stocks and locations.

“On the basis of all of that, Coal India Limited and Meghalaya government will together decide the way forward. Though Coal India has been given the responsibility to dispose off the remaining extracted coal, but due to limitations that Coal India has in Meghalaya, they need to work with the state government in a close manner,” the chief minister said.

Coal India Limited was asked by the Supreme Court on July 3, to auction and dispose of the remaining extracted coal in Meghalaya.

The court asked the Coal India Limited to auction coal after it lifted the ban on coal mining in Meghalaya which was imposed by the NGT since April 17, 2014.

The Apex Court however, made it clear that while implementing statutory regime for carrying out mining operations in the hills districts of Meghalaya, the state has to ensure compliance of not only the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulations) Act, 1957, but the Mines Act, 1952, Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, as well besides the Mineral Concessions Rules, 1960.