The Supreme Court on Tuesday, in a major setback to mining lobby in Meghalaya, refused to give more time to mine owners to transport the coal already extracted. The top court also pulled up the Meghalaya government for “failing to curb rampant illegal mining” in the state.
The Top Court said, “The present incident (15 miners trapped in rat hole mines) shows illegal mining continues despite the ban and the state may not be supporting it but has failed to contain illegal mining.”
In December Last month, around 15 miners got trapped in an illegal “rat hole” coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills. The mine was located near the Lytein river in Ksan village. It is reported that the interiors of the mine flooded and collapsed when the miners were digging.
The coal mining in Meghalaya using the ‘rat-hole mining’ technique has been banned by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2014. But, it has been rampant till date. However, in 2014 NGT allowed the transportation that was extracted before the ban.
Mining companies had moved Supreme Court, after the green watchdog in 2015 stopped transportation and since then have been seeking extensions for transportation of coal. Today the top court said, “Despite several extensions, you are seeking more time and this means illegal mining is still going on.”
The Meghalaya government has been seeking time since 2014, to allow transportation of coal despite the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) ban on rat-hole mining. The state had told the court earlier that the coal that was being transported was already extracted before the NGT ban.
Earlier on January 4, National Green Tribunal imposed a fine of 100 crores on Meghalaya government for failing to curb illegal Coal Mining in the State. The order came days after a judicial panel headed by Retired Justice BK Katakey found large-scale violations of a coal mining ban in the state.
The National Green Tribunal in its order also stated that the fine amount can be recovered from illegal miners & responsible officials. The Order further stated that it has to be deposited in the Central pollution control board within 2 months from the date of order.
Coal Mine Owners reportedly have a nexus with Politicians of the state. According to the Report drafted by the Civil Society groups of the state, many State Politicians have direct links with Coal Mine Owners. Congress Leader Vincent Pala, Four Ministers in Conrad Sangma government, and seven non-NPP (National’s People Party) lawmakers are either coal barons or their families have business interests in mining, as per the Citizens’ report prepared by the Civil groups of the state.
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