TURA, July 13: Meghalaya High Court appointed National Green Tribunal (NGT) judge, justice B P Katakey, who is on a fact finding mission to expose illegal rat hole coal mining in the Garo Hills, has said that the huge number of illegal coke factories, which mushroomed in the West Khasi Hills, bordering South and East Garo Hills, and East Khasi Hills districts, was made possible due to the availability of coal that was being mined illegally in the region for a long time.

He said that continued survey of coal areas through drone technology would serve the purpose of ensuring a clampdown on illegal mining.

Justice Katakey arrived on Wednesday in South Garo Hills district to ascertain allegations of illegal mining following widespread complaints from social activists and public representatives about illegal mining taking place in the coal rich basin of Nangalbibra region.

“In the process of illegal mining and export, certain industries have also come up illegally, particularly the coke oven plants and ferro alloy plants and these are being produced particularly in the Shallang area of West Khasi Hills and East Khasi Hills region. Coke factories have mushroomed wherever illegal mining of coal has operated,” pointed out Justice Katakey and revealed that over 50 illegal coke factories that were in operation were shut down by the NGT during his tenure.

“Some of these coke factories had government permission, others did not, but they had no clearance from the pollution control board,” he revealed, indicating a nexus among bureaucrats and certain government agencies.

Justice Katakey told media persons in Baghmara, district headquarters of South Garo Hills, that he had arrived in the region to check first hand the allegations of illegal mining.

“I have received complaints from citizens of Garo Hills about the illegal mining of coal taking place, which is why I have come personally to visit. There are serious discrepancies in the export of coal at this point of time,” he said.

He revealed further that a huge amount of coal has been exported to Bangladesh by an export agency without the government receiving any returns and since the state has failed to take any steps to get to the bottom of it, he had recommended an investigation.

Also read: In bid to boost tourism, Meghalaya Govt to fund 1,000 homestays annually

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