Meghalaya HC calls for action against ‘real culprits’ behind illegal coke plants

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 13: The Meghalaya High Court has asked the state to take action against ‘real culprits’ behind the illegal coke plants, as per law.

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“If the real culprits are well known, it would be expected of the State to take appropriate action against them in accordance with law,” the full bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee said in its order today while hearing a PIL filed by Shailendra Kumar Sharma on the matter.

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DSGI Dr Mozika informed the Court that after orders have been passed for shutting illegal coke plants, the real persons who started the illegal operations may have abandoned most of the coke plants and the local persons or the workers may have taken over their reduced operations.

Dr Mozika suggested that the identification of the kingpins should not be a difficult job as they are well known.

Advocate-General submitted that the State has called upon the investigating agency to trace out the original operators and bring them to book.

Additional penal provisions have, apparently, been incorporated in the original FIRs to facilitate such a process.

Earlier, the State had fairly submitted that there is no impediment to shutting down all illegally operating coke plants in the State.

As to what may be perceived to be illegally operating coke plants would be if such plants do not have any license or permission to operate or, even if they do possess the requisite license, the source of coal is not legitimate. Both aspects are of key importance.

The State has offered that this aspect of the matter may also be looked into by Justice Katakey, as suggested on behalf of the petitioner.

“Accordingly, the petitioner is given liberty to approach Justice Katakey who has been appointed to monitor the implementation of the orders of the National Green Tribunal and the Supreme Court pertaining to illegal coal mining in the State to ensure that similar illegality is not perpetuated by illegally operating coke plants,” the Court said.

Any matter pertaining to illegally operating coke plants may be incorporated in the interim reports that are filed regularly by Justice Katakey in the suo motu proceedings.

While hearing another PIL pertaining to a similar matter, the Division Bench said that some directions have been issued, including for Justice BP Katakey (retired), to monitor the coke plants which are operating in the State and their status, based on whether they have permission to operate and also the source of the coal being used.

“The relevant matter has been adjourned for eight weeks upon recording the State’s submission that the State is interested in demolishing all illegally operating coke plants and ascertaining the identities of the real persons who started or continue such operations,” it said.

Liberty is given to the petitioner to approach Justice Katakey with any details that may assist Justice Katakey in monitoring the operations at the coke plants in the State, it added.

The next hearing will be held on May 9.

Meghalaya High Court orders CISF deployment to check illegal coal transport

Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 13: The Meghalaya High Court has ordered deployment of 10 companies of central industrial security force (CISF) to check illegal transportation of coal.

ALSO READ: Meghalaya HC calls for action against ‘real culprits’ behind illegal coke plants

This was after the state had indicated that a sum of Rs 316 crore would be required for construction of quarters and barracks if 100 companies of CRPF are to be deployed in the state.

In its order, the full bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee said, “Instead, it appears to be fair and reasonable to this Court to deploy 10 companies, not of CRPF but of Central Industrial Security Force. That is because, as the Central government duly points out, the CRPF functions under the command of the State police whereas CISF can function independently.”

On a query from the Court, it was submitted on behalf of the Central government that CISF would be able to handle the aspect of checking goods vehicles.

“Considering the total area in the State and that some of the remote pockets do not have roads or even the menace of illegal coal mining and its transportation, 10 companies of CISF should be enough to check the vehicles and completely arrest the illegal transportation of coal,” the Court said.

“While CISF is engaged in checking the vehicles, there is no doubt that it would also check for contraband and ensure that the goods vehicles conform to the weight limits for plying on the State and national highways in Meghalaya,” it added.

The Court also directed Dr Mozika to ascertain the logistics and formalities for 10 companies of CISF to be deployed for the purpose of checking the illegal transportation of coal in the State.

“The process may not last several years as the State proposes to open up scientific mining and grant licenses therefore in accordance with law which may make illegal coal mining an unattractive proposition thereafter,” it said.

Justice Katakey has filed an 11th interim report which the State and the Central government should consider.

The Court further said it was also proposed that upon the 10 CISF companies being made available for the indicated purpose, the key areas which need to be manned and guarded would be decided in consultation with Justice Katakey.

“It is made clear that the deployment of CISF will be on payment basis, subject to negotiation between the State and the Centre,” it stated.

Earlier, the State has prepared a blueprint for the deployment of the Central Reserve Police Force in the State to check the illegal mining of coal and its transportation.

The State’s plan is rather grandiose as it seeks deployment of 100 companies in the eastern range and 60 companies in the western range where one company consists of 135 personnel.

Though the State has indicated in great detail the number of companies to be deployed in the 12 districts, including bifurcating the companies which would be involved in checking vehicles and others which would check the mining activities, the cost implication, even on a short-term, temporary basis, may make it unfeasible.

Indeed, only on account of construction of quarters and barracks, the State has indicated a sum of Rs 316 crore and for requisitioning vehicles an annual expenditure in excess of Rs 58 crore.

At any rate, even if the infrastructure constructed may be put to use by the State upon the CRPF no longer being required, it would take a considerable period to complete the construction and it would be a Herculean task to house 160 companies on a temporary basis.

Indeed, the State’s coal reserves may be exhausted by the time the State’s grand design is put in place.

The next hearing will be held on March 20.

Stories of a Shillong boy Part 1: Hill Boy and the Desert

There is a little 10 year old boy in Shillong who has a funny way of looking at things. I call him “Ray” – A named derived from his Khasi first name. I am his mother and this is one of the many stories I have about him.

Now Ray had an intense hate for two subjects in school – science and geography. I’m still drawing nonsensical circles around science, but I think I’ve cracked geography and a geography lesson is one of the most fun things we do together now. I want to talk about a lesson we did a little while ago.

In this lesson, we read about the Thar Desert. The book said something really scary to Ray. It told him that the desert is expanding because we cut down forests and let our cattle eat away all our grasslands. This really worried him. Before we could go on with the lesson, he said, “But I don’t want the desert to reach the Meghalaya.”

I looked at him and said, “It won’t.”

“But the book says that it will.” He insists. “I don’t want to live in a desert.”

I had to think for a bit. See Ray has this way of getting fixated on something and then he dwells on it – a reason why I tutor him myself by redoing every chapter that his teachers have taught in school. His head is full of questions that he would never ask in a classroom kind of space, but he would demand an answer out of me.

“It will not happen tomorrow Ray.” I said, “We’ll all be dead and gone by then. There is no need to stress.”

This did not put him at ease at all. He was worried. “I don’t want to live in India anymore if the desert is growing mei. We have to leave India.”

“There are deserts everywhere.” I said.

“This can happen all over the world?” he asked sounding completely helpless.

“Yes.” I said thinking of Mad Max Fury Road. “But it won’t happen anytime soon. It will probably happen during the time of your great great great great grandchild so you have nothing to worry about.”

This calmed him down for a little while and I was able to finish the lesson. He had his dinner after that, brushed his teeth and got into bed.

As I was tucking him in he said softly, “But I want my great great great great grand son or daughter to live also.”

And it suddenly struck me that even I want my great great great great great grandchild to live.

(This piece has been written by Dalariti Nongpiur with illustrations by Hazel Kharkongor)

Upscaling Hobby to Business- the story of Harador Khariong’s Plant Parenthood

“If done with full commitment and passion whether it’s art, science or music, one can achieve their goal to make things work better and the satisfaction you will get is beyond your imagination”— Harador Khariong, Founder-Plant Parenthood
For Harador Khariong, a resident of Wahingdoh Shillong, East Khasi Hills Meghalaya, Plant Parenthood started as a hobby and out of love for plants during her college days. This eventually became more interesting and turned to be a career option in planting in the year 2020, especially succulents because they were relatively easier to take care of.
It was during the Northeast Food Show 2022 that Harador saw few entrepreneurs with their stall under the umbrella of PRIME, after which she learned in detail about PRIME and how it has helped entrepreneurs succeed in their business. Therefore, in the same year she enrolled herself in the Pre – Incubation batch 3.
Through the PRIME’s Pre-Incubation program, she learned more about upscaling her business and ultimately launched the ‘Plant Parenthood’ initiative.
This article has been featured in collaboration with PRIME Entrepreneurship Meghalaya. To know more about PRIME, visit: https://www.primemeghalaya.com/