SHILLONG, Aug 18: The state government on Thursday decided to again start issuing challan for export of limestone outside Meghalaya.

This was after the government had received clarification from the Coal and Mines Ministry and Ministry of Commerce on the issue following an order passed by the Meghalaya High Court on June 23, 2022.

Thank Hon’ble Union Minister for Coal & Mines, Sh. @JoshiPralhad Ji & Hon’ble Union Minister for Commerce & Industries, Sh. @PiyushGoyal Ji for facilitating issuance of notification clarifying on export of limestone from Meghalaya. pic.twitter.com/b7bFJmnF0z

— Conrad Sangma (@SangmaConrad) August 18, 2022

The notification comes after Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma had intervened in the matter and had recently met Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi in Delhi.

Addressing media persons, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said the moment the order of the High Court was received, the state government has taken up this issue with the government of India, Ministry of Coal and Mines as well as with the Ministry of Commerce.

“Only few days back we got the views, the notification and the clarification from these two concerned ministries…they have clarified that export is already listed in the list of export items of limestone irrespective of whether limestone is major or whether limestone is minor,” he said.

Tynsong also informed that the government through its advocate general has also received the verbal observation of the High Court.

The PIL filed by one Lawyerson War was again taken up for hearing on Thursday and in its order, the court said, “Since the petitioner seeks some time, let the matter appear a fortnight hence. List on September 7, 2022.”

In view of this, the deputy chief minister announced the government’s decision to start issuing challan for exporting limestone outside Meghalaya.

“So today, through the advocate general, we received the verbal observation of the high court that from now on we are going to issue challan again for export of limestone irrespective of major or minor and the state government will accordingly issue the challan to the concerned exporters for exporting of this material outside the state and outside the country. Again, the high court has listed this case in the next 15 days,” he informed.

When asked, Tynsong said that the government had stopped issuing challan for export of limestone since June 23, 2020.