The Meghalaya Government assured the High Court that no license has been issued for coal-mining in any form whatsoever.
Advocate General Amit Kumar told the High Court that the state government has forwarded the applications made by several parties seeking license to initiate coal mining activities to the Centre. Besides, the central government has referred the applications to an expert body.
This was revealed during the hearing of the PIL on illegal coal mining in the Meghalaya HC.
The state government also noted that it has warned truck owners’ associations that stringent action would be initiated against the truckers and the parent association if there is any attempt to transport fresh illegally mined coal.
It mentioned that substantial progress has been made in terms of the timelines indicated in previous affidavits filed by the State and noticed in the orders passed by the HC.
Meanwhile, the eighth interim report has been filed by Justice B P Katakey (retired), who has been appointed by the HC to oversee the implementation of the directions issued by the Supreme Court, National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the auction of previously illegally mined coal in accordance therewith.
The report summarized the directions issued by the SC and the NGT, the status of implementation of such directions, including orders passed in respect thereof in the present proceedings, and the action taken by the State government. The third part of the report deals with coke oven plants and ferro alloy plants where coal is used as an ingredient.
The next hearing on the matter will be held on December 7.
