Took Place During NGT-Ban Phase, Coal Mining : CAG

SHILLONG: The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India for the year finished March 31, 2018, has uncovered illicit mining and transportation of coal during the National Green Tribunal (NGT) boycott period.

It might be referenced that the NGT had restricted coal mining in Meghalaya on April 17, 2014 and consequently now and again permitted transportation of coal extricated preceding the boycott.

The review report saw that the area organization had seen three instances of illicit mining and 847 instances of transportation of wrongfully extricated coal including 24,750 metric ton (MT) of coal after NGT forbiddance.

Out of the 847 cases, 716 cases are with reference toward the East Jaintia Hills and Ri-Bhoi areas.

Notwithstanding these, police organization additionally revealed two instances of illicit coal mining in Laskein and Khloo Kynring in West Jaintia Hills locale.

The CAG report likewise expressed that it was seen that there were instances of illicit coal mining in the save timberland zones in Garo Hills as announced by the Assistant Mines Royalty Inspector, Williamnagar, East Garo Hills, to the region organization and Forest Department.

The Mining Department and locale organization authorities, during an examination in Dipogre and Damal Asim territory in West Garo Hills likewise announced of unlawful mining activities at these two areas.

The review group during the field review in East Jaintia Hills additionally saw colossal coal stocks lying on the roadside.

“After the most recent transportation stage permitted by the Supreme Court which finished on May 31, 2018, there was just 20,000 MT of coal stock left in the State,” the CAG report expressed.

This was put together by the State government in the Supreme Court on March 21, 2018, that around 20,000 MT of coal is left to be shipped in the State separated from South Garo Hills.

In line with the review, officials from the locale organization, police and mining office alongside review together directed joint physical examination in three destinations — Rymbai road\village, Lad Sutnga and Dkhieh town in East Jaintia Hills area — on August 28, 2018.

During the examination, 12 mining locales were found in the Dkhieh town, where coal mining gave off an impression of being done. In every one of these destinations, separated coal estimating between 10-12,000 MT was lying dumped outside the coal mining pits.

“Work camps, cranes, generators and diesel alongside dumpers were additionally observed at these locales,” the CAG report expressed.

On the Rymbai street region, there were 20 coal stations with coal estimating roughly 1.50 lakh MT. These coal dumps were situated in the region of the primary street.

Piles of coal weighing around five lakh MT was lying dumped on the two sides of the primary street over a stretch of 7 kms in the Lad Sutnga region.

“Coal estimating roughly 5,000 MT was found dumped in any event 12 areas in regions nearby the National Highway from Jowai to Khliehriat,” the CAG report expressed.

The CAG further saw that all line offices like Police, Forest, Transport, Mining and Taxation divisions including the region organizations have converging and aggregate duty to uphold the restriction on coal mining even as it expressed that the Mining Department remains the fundamental partner of mining exercises in the State.

“The way that these immense coal dumps are situated close to the parkways with the expectation to be shipped, just featured the incapability of the checkgates,” the CAG report expressed.