As many as 17 illegal coke plants have been demolished in the West Khasi Hills district, a significant action supported by both the district administration and the police, as part of an ongoing campaign initiated by the Meghalaya government. This demolition effort, which commenced at the beginning of the month, follows more than two years of attempts to eliminate illegal coke factories that proliferated in Shallang and surrounding regions. The specific locations of the demolished plants include 11 in Kyllon Mathei, three in Swangre, two in Pyndengjalong, one in Shallang, and one in Nonghynrum.
Currently, only four legally sanctioned coke plants remain in operation within the area, and an additional four are in the process of shutting down temporarily due to pending documentation issues. The delays in the demolition were attributed to a lack of funding from the state. Notably, the Supreme Court issued a directive on November 25, 2024, calling for the demolition of illegal coke plants. Previously, an initial sweep resulted in the demolition of 39 out of 57 identified illegal coke plants via controlled blasting in July 2023. However, plant owners challenged the demolition order in the Supreme Court, which granted them a stay and allowed them time to secure valid documentation.
All identified illegal plants operated without necessary permits, including some lacking no-objection certificates from local landowners. The initial demolition operation was prompted by a complaint received by the Meghalaya High Court regarding the rapid increase of these illegal facilities, which arose within a period of just four years despite an existing ban on rat-hole mining.
+ There are no comments
Add yours