SHILLONG, Feb 12 � Transportation of extracted coal came to a halt yesterday in Meghalaya in compliance with the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), State Chief Secretary Barkos Oflyn Warjri said.
�Transportation of coal from the place of its origin has been stopped since 5 pm last evening. There are a few vehicles which are yet to cross over to their destination,� Warjri said.
He said the State Government has halted the transportation in compliance with the order of the NGT.
The NGT had in October last year asked coal miners and transporters to pay Rs 400 crore royalty to the State Government within 45 days as per Mines Development and Regulation Act, 1957, before transporting 6.3 million tonnes of extracted coal lying in depots across the State.
The Mineral Resources department had collected royalty of over Rs 77 crore till date for the coal assessed by an expert committee appointed by the NGT. Over 9.76 million MT of extracted coal have also been transported out of the 11,02,950 MT coal allowed for transportation.
Banned by the NGT for mining since April last year, transportation of coal was allowed, where the expert committee had assessed the quantity and whose royalty have been paid to the government. � PTI
