GUWAHATI: The Meghalaya High Court has directed state Chief Secretary D P Wahlang to confiscate the assets of government officers involved in the “flagrant operation” of illegal coke plants in the state.
Hearing a PIL on Wednesday, the HC division bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee directed Wahlang to also file an action taken report against “erring officers” promoting illegal mining of coal in the hill state.
“The Chief Secretary will file a report at the first sitting of the Court on February 3, 2023, as to the action taken against the erring officers, including notices of suspension, initiation of departmental proceedings, sequestration of assets and the like for the flagrant operation of illegal coke plants,” said the court order.
“The Chief Secretary will carry the report to the Court and remain personally liable for any illegal mining of coal or illegal operation of any coke plant in the State,” it directed. The bench said that the remainder of the matter will be considered after receipt of the report.
The Deputy Commissioner of West Khasi Hills in an affidavit filed on January 27 informed that closure notice has been pasted on each of the 57 coke plants and an FIR has also been filed at Shallang Police Station, said reports.
The state’s stand on illegal coal mining and the functioning of illegal coke plants has been less than satisfactory, the court said.
Referring to a fresh petition on illegal coal mining in South Garo Hills, it said “It is a matter of crying shame that despite orders of the Supreme Court, no less, a state of anarchy is brought about by the state government by flouting such orders and apparently actively aiding in the illegal mining of coal and the functioning of coke plants without a licence in the state.
The affidavit by the DC also informed that in compliance with the directions of the court dated December 16, 2022, an order was issued for taking immediate steps to shut down all illegal coke plants operating in West Khasi Hills District.
Equipment found at the site was also confiscated and will be proceeded with in accordance with the law, the affidavit said, as per reports.
The materials were seized at the site as time is required to transport them to government depots. They are presently lying on-site in the district administration’s custody and will be transported after the determination of quantity in due course of time, it said.
Since the blanket ban on mining and transportation of coal in 2014 by NGT, clandestine illegal mining has taken place and several cases of violations were filed.
