High Court Told by Meghalaya Govt: Two Illegal Coke Units Razed, Fifteen Additional Demolitions Set for Dec 15

The Meghalaya government has informed the High Court that two illegal coke oven plants violating the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board’s (MSPCB) siting norms have been demolished, while the remaining 15 will be pulled down by December 15. The task has already been assigned to a contracted agency, the state said in a status report filed in court.

The report was submitted during the hearing of a PIL on illegal coal mining and transportation in the state.

According to the government, in line with decisions taken during the Committee’s meeting on November 20, the MSPCB will conduct inspections every three months, and a consolidated report will be submitted thereafter.

The state also said approval is awaited for shifting and auctioning 3,039.92 MT of coal at Nongjri. Meanwhile, the investigation into 920.73 MT of missing coal continues.

Garuda’s aerial survey in South West Khasi Hills identified 37 coal dump sites, of which 28 have been physically verified. Inspection was scheduled to be completed by November 30.

In East Jaintia Hills, the UAV survey estimated 81,776.92 MT of coal at 660 dumps, but only 58,321 MT was found during physical verification.
An FIR has been lodged over 8,766.37 MT of verified coal that could not be accounted for.

Of the physically verified 58,321 MT:

142.97 MT has been transferred to the designated depot.

19.508 MT matched claims made in a pending petition.

35,661 MT has been ordered to be seized.

The Committee has also directed the Deputy Commissioner to file FIRs for the remaining missing coal.

In West Khasi Hills, the court was informed that seized coal may be moved to an existing designated depot in the district to avoid creating new temporary depots.

In South Garo Hills, although Garuda detected around 35 MT of coal lying outside designated depots during the aerial survey, district authorities could not find any coal during subsequent inspection.

The status report further mentioned steps taken to recover dues from Ferro Alloy Plants. The Committee has also instructed the Coal Audit Committee to complete source audits within a month.

An FIR was filed on October 10 against individuals who falsely claimed that coal had been extracted before the national ban.

With around 210 MT of coal still to be auctioned, the state has written to MSTC and Coal India. MSTC has informed the government that e-auctions will resume on December 17.
Responding to the High Court’s concerns over illegal mining in the Kremlangshait forest under Lumbangla village in East Jaintia Hills, the state said a joint inspection was conducted following an FIR on September 27.

Authorities detected and seized 22,122 MT of illegally extracted coal from the forest. Photographs attached to the report show drilling rigs, mining equipment and box-cut mine structures still intact at the site.

The High Court has said it expects prompt action to seize and destroy the equipment used for illegal mining.