SHILLONG, May 3 - The hearing on a petition to lift the ban on coal mining in Meghalaya resumed in the Supreme Court today with amicus curiae Colin Gonsalves arguing that all illegally mined coal should be vested with the Coal India Limited.
The petition was filed by one Lber Laloo who wants the ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) since April, 2014, to be lifted.
However, a substantial amount of coal has apparently been mined illegally, especially in the Jaintia Hills, after the NGT ban on coal mining.
An NGT-constituted committee headed by Justice BP Katakey (retd) found evidence of illegal coal mining during a field visit to the Jaintia Hills. It submitted a report to the Tribunal regarding the findings.
In this context, the senior advocate of the Supreme Court argued that since the coal has been mined illegally, it should be handed over to Coal India Limited at its depot in Guwahati.
The senior advocate also argued that the Kropha Committee report has found that declarations made by coal miners regarding the coal stock in the State are not correct.
He also justified the fine of Rs 100 crore imposed by the NGT on the State Government for failing to check illegal mining of coal and its transportation.
Earlier this year, a bench headed by NGT chairperson, AK Goel, passed the order underlining that the penalty of Rs 100 crore would be recovered from coal miners and officials who were deputed to stop illegal mining in the State.
The penalty amount is to be deposited with the Central Pollution Control Board. However, the State Government is arguing against the NGT penalty.
The next hearing of the case is slated on May 7.
