State Should Have Provided Alternate Sources Of Livelihood To Those Affected By Cessation Of Coal Mining Operations: Meghalaya High Court
1 year, 8 months ago

State Should Have Provided Alternate Sources Of Livelihood To Those Affected By Cessation Of Coal Mining Operations: Meghalaya High Court

Live Law  

The remarks were made after State submitted that due to sudden stoppage of mining activities, people were forced to continue with it despite the prohibition. Finding no force in this argument, the bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee, Justices H. S. Thangkhiew and W Diengdoh remarked, The Meghalaya High Court on Thursday emphasized the need for the State government to provide alternative sources of livelihood to individuals who have been affected by cessation of mining activities in the State. The Court also took note of State's efforts towards commencing scientific mining of coal and suggested it to encourage the formation of cooperative bodies among small miners. Meanwhile, the Court has asked the State to file a fresh status report on the progress made in dealing with illegal mining, transportation of illegally-mined coal, and operation of illegal coke plants through the Secretary in the Mining Department. Case Title: In Re: : Illegal Mining of coal in the State of Meghalaya Click Here To Read/Download Order

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History of this topic

Over 1.92 lakh MT of illegal coal found by aerial survey in Meghalaya: HC panel
1 week ago

Over 1.92 lakh MT of illegal coal found by aerial survey in Meghalaya: HC panel

Hindustan Times  

Shillong: Over 1.92 lakh metric tons of illegally mined coal was found in four districts of Meghalaya by an aerial survey conducted by Garuda, a survey company, the Justice BP Katakey Committee, appointed by the Meghalaya high court to probe illegal coal mining in the state, said on Tuesday. Speaking to the media after a meeting in Shillong, Katakey said, …

Upalokayukta take officers to task for allowing illegal gravel mining in Vijayanagara district
2 weeks, 3 days ago

Upalokayukta take officers to task for allowing illegal gravel mining in Vijayanagara district

The Hindu  

After receiving definite information about illegal gravel mining at a private land at Kallahalli in Hosapete taluk of Vijayanagara district, Upalokayukta B. Veerappa paid a surprise visit to the property on Saturday and reprimanded the officials for allowing it. When the village officer said that he had informed about the illegal gravel mining to the previous tahsildar and he did …

Umrangso Coal Mine Deaths: Gauhati High Court Takes Suo Motu Cognizance, Seeks Report From Assam Govt Over Illegal Mining Activities
2 months ago

Umrangso Coal Mine Deaths: Gauhati High Court Takes Suo Motu Cognizance, Seeks Report From Assam Govt Over Illegal Mining Activities

Live Law  

The Gauhati High Court on Tuesday issued notice to the State authorities in a Suo Moto PIL taking note of the coal mine tragedy that had taken place in Umrangso of Dima Hasao district of Assam. The division bench of the Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Kaushik Goswami directed the State respondents to file their response to the PIL …

Catch illegal miners named in government report in 2019: Assam rights group
2 months, 1 week ago

Catch illegal miners named in government report in 2019: Assam rights group

The Hindu  

GUWAHATI More than a fortnight after nine miners were trapped in a flooded rat-hole coal mine in central Assam’s Dima Hasao district bordering Meghalaya, the focus has shifted to similar illegal operations in the eastern part of the State, along the border with Arunachal Pradesh. “In March 2019, Assam’s Geology and Mining Department wrote to Tinsukia’s Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent …

Take decisive action against illegal coal mining: Assam Jatiya Parishad to PM
2 months, 1 week ago

Take decisive action against illegal coal mining: Assam Jatiya Parishad to PM

The Hindu  

A regional political party in Assam has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take decisive action against political leaders and government officials responsible for illegal rat-hole mining, resulting in the loss of lives and environmental degradation in blatant violation of repeated directions by the Supreme Court. This was with reference to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s decision to constitute a …

Assam coal mine mishap: Four bodies recovered so far
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Assam coal mine mishap: Four bodies recovered so far

The Hindu  

Rescue workers retrieved bodies bodies of miners from a flooded rat-hole coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district by Saturday afternoon. The water level is down to about 15 metres with six pumps draining out 2.43 lakh litres per hour from the affected mine,” Dima Hasao District Commissioner Simanta Kumar Das told The Hindu. SIT probe sought Assam Congress MP …

Coal generates revenue for Meghalaya, but at what cost
1 year, 2 months ago

Coal generates revenue for Meghalaya, but at what cost

Hindustan Times  

Meghalaya is predominantly rich in tertiary coal deposits belonging to the Eocene age. Precious lives of undocumented labourers, intricate cave systems, alluring water bodies, and exotic flora and fauna continue to be adversely affected by the rampant and illegal coal mining that is still underway, despite a ban by the National Green Tribunal close to a decade ago, prohibiting mining …

Illegal Coal Mining: Meghalaya High Court Mulls CBI Probe, Asks State To Show Cause Why Police Administration Should Be Trusted
1 year, 8 months ago

Illegal Coal Mining: Meghalaya High Court Mulls CBI Probe, Asks State To Show Cause Why Police Administration Should Be Trusted

Live Law  

Contemplating demands for CBI probe into the issue of illegal coal mining in Meghalaya, the High Court on Tuesday directed the State government to show cause why it should still have any confidence in the police or the administrative machinery. Today, the petitioner presented compelling video showcasing illicit coal-mining activities and the transport of illegally-mined coal across various districts. Unconvinced, …

Disclose Instances Of Illegal Mining In State, Action Taken Against Such Breaches: Uttarakhand High Court To State
1 year, 8 months ago

Disclose Instances Of Illegal Mining In State, Action Taken Against Such Breaches: Uttarakhand High Court To State

Live Law  

The Uttarakhand High Court directed the State to disclose the instances of illegal mining in the state and the actions taken against such breaches. “The State should disclose in its affidavit to be filed within two weeks the instances of illegal mining by the licensees, which have come to light, and the nature of action taken in respect of each …

Meghalaya HC pulls up chief secretary, DGP over illegal coal mining in the state
1 year, 10 months ago

Meghalaya HC pulls up chief secretary, DGP over illegal coal mining in the state

Hindustan Times  

The Meghalaya high court on Monday sought to know why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against both the chief secretary and the director general of police of the state for their apparent inaction and failure to check illegal coal mining operations and transportation in the State. The full bench consisting of chief justice Sanjib Bannerjee and justice HS Thangkhiew …

Nine years after ban, coal mining to resume in Meghalaya, says CM Sangma
1 year, 10 months ago

Nine years after ban, coal mining to resume in Meghalaya, says CM Sangma

The Hindu  

Coal mining in Meghalaya, banned since April 2014, is likely to be resumed legally by July. At an election rally on May 1, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said the Centre had approved mining leases for four persons, thus paving the way for scientific mining in the State. An April 24 letter from the Ministry of Coal to the …

High Court pulls up Meghalaya govt. for illegal coal mining
1 year, 11 months ago

High Court pulls up Meghalaya govt. for illegal coal mining

The Hindu  

GUWAHATI The High Court of Meghalaya has declined to exonerate the Meghalaya government from complicity in the export of illegally-mined coal to Bangladesh. Hearing a public interest litigation regarding the export of coal through western Meghalaya’s Gasuapara land custom station on Tuesday, the court took note of the State government’s submission that a system has been put in place for …

Meghalaya High Court Asks CISF To Indicate Its Readiness On Deployment For Curbing Illegal Coal Mining
2 years ago

Meghalaya High Court Asks CISF To Indicate Its Readiness On Deployment For Curbing Illegal Coal Mining

Live Law  

The Meghalaya High Court on Monday asked the Central Industrial Security Force to indicate within fortnight as to how its deployment can be ensured within four weeks in order to check illegal transportation of coal in the State. A Full bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justices H. S. Thangkhiew, W Diengdoh was hearing a suo motu PIL to …

Court scales down ‘grandiose’ Meghalaya plan to check coal mining
2 years ago

Court scales down ‘grandiose’ Meghalaya plan to check coal mining

The Hindu  

The High Court of Meghalaya has scaled down a “grandiose” plan of the State government to spend at least ₹374 crore on 160 companies of the Central Reserve Police Force to check the illegal mining and transportation of coal. Thangkhiew, and Justice W. Diengdoh observed the government’s plan to deploy 160 companies of CRPF was “grandiose”. “At any rate, even …

Meghalaya High Court Asks State To Identify 'Kingpins' Of Illegal Coal Mining, Take Appropriate Legal Action
2 years ago

Meghalaya High Court Asks State To Identify 'Kingpins' Of Illegal Coal Mining, Take Appropriate Legal Action

Live Law  

The Meghalaya High Court on Monday expressed hope that the State will take effective steps to identify kingpins of illegal coal mining and take appropriate action in the matter. A full bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justices H. S. Thangkhiew & W. Diengdoh was hearing a Public Interest Litigation on the menace of Illegal Coal Mining in the …

CRPF to have aggressive role to control, monitor illegal coal mining in Meghalaya: HC
2 years, 1 month ago

CRPF to have aggressive role to control, monitor illegal coal mining in Meghalaya: HC

The Hindu  

The Meghalaya High Court said the CRPF can have a more aggressive role to control and monitor the illegal mining and transportation of coal in the hill State. The High Court also directed the Meghalaya Government to indicate the number of central armed police force personnel it requires to effectively monitor and check illegal mining and transportation of coal in …

Meghalaya High Court takes tough stand on illegal coal
2 years, 5 months ago

Meghalaya High Court takes tough stand on illegal coal

The Hindu  

The High Court of Meghalaya has directed the State government to ensure “not an ounce of illegally-mined coal” is allowed to be transported in trucks or other vehicles. The court told Meghalaya’s Chief Secretary and Director-General of Police that they would be accountable if any form of illegally-mined coal is discovered being transported in the State. “The DGP will instruct …

'Or They'll Go Scot Free': Meghalaya Cong Demands Independent Inquiry into Allege Illegal Coal Trade
3 years, 9 months ago

'Or They'll Go Scot Free': Meghalaya Cong Demands Independent Inquiry into Allege Illegal Coal Trade

News 18  

The opposition Congress has reiterated its demand for an independent inquiry into the alleged illegal coal mining and its transportation in Meghalaya. “Unless there is an independent inquiry by an outside agency which is not under the control of the state government this truth cannot be uncovered and the perpetrators brought to book, they will all go scot free…it will …

Miners Still Trapped in Meghalaya Coal Mine, Rain Hampers Rescue Efforts
3 years, 10 months ago

Miners Still Trapped in Meghalaya Coal Mine, Rain Hampers Rescue Efforts

News 18  

Heavy rainfall on Tuesday is hampering operations to rescue at least five miners trapped for two days deep inside an illegal rat-hole coal pit in Meghalayas East Jaintia Hills district, officials said. The district administration has identified five miners four from Assam and one from Tripura who were trapped at the coal pit in the remote Umpleng area of Sutnga …

Meghalaya govt encouraging illegal coal mining, says NGO
4 years, 4 months ago

Meghalaya govt encouraging illegal coal mining, says NGO

The Hindu  

GUWAHATI A Meghalaya-based rights group has accused the alliance government in the State of encouraging illegal coal mining in contempt of a Supreme Court order. The State government later claimed tonnes of already extracted coal lying around various mining sites needed to be transported to prevent the local environment from being polluted. Coal miners had in December 2018 told the …

Mapping The Human Rights And Environmental Perils Of Illegal Coal Mining In Meghalaya: An Analysis
4 years, 6 months ago

Mapping The Human Rights And Environmental Perils Of Illegal Coal Mining In Meghalaya: An Analysis

Live Law  

The problem of mining in the North-Eastern region of the country has been incessantly perturbing the ecology over a while now. This reckless approach by the coal mining companies landed them in a quagmire when 15 of such miners got trapped Lumthari village of East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya which raised ethical as well as health concerns of the …

COVID-19 Lockdown: Coal mine labourers stranded as owners protest in Meghalaya; some walk back home to Assam
4 years, 10 months ago

COVID-19 Lockdown: Coal mine labourers stranded as owners protest in Meghalaya; some walk back home to Assam

Firstpost  

Since 3 May, rules have been considerably relaxed for commercial transportation even though coal was listed under ‘essential goods’ from the very beginning. However, local organisations, including the Jaintia Coal Mine Owners and Dealers’ Association and student bodies like the Hynniewtrep National Youth Front and the Khasi Students’ Union, have protested the transport of coal from Assam to cement plants …

SC directs Meghalaya govt to deposit Rs 100 cr with CPCB for causing environmental degradation by 'illegal, unregulated' coal mining
5 years, 8 months ago

SC directs Meghalaya govt to deposit Rs 100 cr with CPCB for causing environmental degradation by 'illegal, unregulated' coal mining

Firstpost  

Environmental degradation by illegal and unregulated coal mining has taken place in Meghalaya, the Supreme Court held Wednesday and directed the state to deposit Rs 100 crore with the Central Pollution Control Board for restoration work. New Delhi: The Supreme Court said on Wednesday that environmental degradation by illegal and unregulated coal mining has taken place in Meghalaya, and directed …

Supreme Court slaps Rs 100 crore fine on Meghalaya government
5 years, 8 months ago

Supreme Court slaps Rs 100 crore fine on Meghalaya government

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that state was under constitutional obligation to provide clean air and water to the people and should act as a facilitator and not as obstructionist in matters pertaining to environment, as it slapped Rs 100 crore fine on Meghalaya to be deposited with the Central Pollution Control Board for restoration of environment. …

Meghalaya Miners: 2 Months Later, Centre To Finally Airlift 100HP Pumps & Call In Army, SC Told [Read Order]
6 years, 1 month ago

Meghalaya Miners: 2 Months Later, Centre To Finally Airlift 100HP Pumps & Call In Army, SC Told [Read Order]

Live Law  

Almost two months after 15 poor labourers got trapped in a flooded illegal rat-hole mine in Meghalaya's East Jaintia hills district, the Centre on Friday accepted the suggestion of airlifting 100 HP capacity pumps to the nearest point of the site and install them "at the earliest" with the help of the Army authorities while the Supreme Court called for …

Meghalaya mining crisis: illegal, inhuman, anti-ecology
6 years, 2 months ago

Meghalaya mining crisis: illegal, inhuman, anti-ecology

Deccan Chronicle  

First the facts of the matter: Disaster struck on December 13 last at a rat-hole coal mine in Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya, in which at least 13 miners got trapped due to a deluge of water rushing into the mine, following the break-down of the chamber due to unscientific illegal mining going on there. In 2014, the National Green Tribunal …

Meghalaya govt orders implementation of Supreme Court order banning coal transportation with immediate effect
6 years, 2 months ago

Meghalaya govt orders implementation of Supreme Court order banning coal transportation with immediate effect

India TV News  

The Meghalaya government Tuesday ordered implementation of the Supreme Court order banning transportation of coal with immediate effect, officials said. The apex court banned transportation of coal in the state forthwith until the next hearing on February 19, refusing a plea by the miners to send extracted coal left to transport since the 2014 National Green Tribunal ban on mining. …

How is illegal rat-hole coal mining in Meghalaya still on despite NGT ban? Asks Supreme Court; bans coal transport till 19 Feb
6 years, 2 months ago

How is illegal rat-hole coal mining in Meghalaya still on despite NGT ban? Asks Supreme Court; bans coal transport till 19 Feb

Firstpost  

The Supreme Court has ordered the Meghalaya government to file a detailed affidavit on whether inspections were being carried out at illegal rat-hole mines in the state. The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned how illegal rat-hole coal mining was still rampant in Meghalaya despite the ban on the practice impost by the National Green Tribunal. The Meghalaya government has been …

Meghalaya govt-coal mafia nexus aids illegal mining, decimates state's ecology, says activists' report submitted to Supreme Court
6 years, 2 months ago

Meghalaya govt-coal mafia nexus aids illegal mining, decimates state's ecology, says activists' report submitted to Supreme Court

Firstpost  

Illegal coal mining in Meghalaya has dispossessed 76 percent of the local tribal population of their land, resulting in large-scale migration of the tribal poor to the urban centres of Shillong and Tura, the report says, adding that this was the major reason for inequality of wealth in the state. The report lists out a number of recommendations to curb …

Meghalaya: Citizens' report urges halt on coal mining, suggests promotion of clean energy
6 years, 2 months ago

Meghalaya: Citizens' report urges halt on coal mining, suggests promotion of clean energy

India TV News  

Meghalaya: Citizens' report urges halt on coal mining, suggests promotion of clean energy The two-volume report released by social activists Agnes Kharshing, Amita Sangma, Angela Rangad, Michael N. Syiem and others has been submitted to the Supreme Court with a plea to consider it for hearing. A group of social activists on Sunday released two volumes of a citizens' report …

Month after Meghalaya mine tragedy, NGT committee asks state police to investigate 1,200 cases of illegal mining
6 years, 2 months ago

Month after Meghalaya mine tragedy, NGT committee asks state police to investigate 1,200 cases of illegal mining

Firstpost  

The Meghalaya police have been told by the NGT that their probe should reach a logical conclusion after taking into account all 1200 cases of illegal rat-hole mining in East Garo Hills, South-West Khasi Hills and West and East Jaintia Hills districts. An official said the police have been told that their probe should reach a logical conclusion after taking …

Illegal coal mining continues in Assam's Ledo-Margherita with support from police officials, local politicians
6 years, 2 months ago

Illegal coal mining continues in Assam's Ledo-Margherita with support from police officials, local politicians

Firstpost  

Illicit coal mining has been continuing on a much larger scale at a remote corner of Assam for the past several years. While the focus of illegal coal mining seems to be on Meghalaya following the disappearance of 15 miners who crawled inside a rat-hole mine, the illicit activity has been continuing on a much larger scale at a remote …

Meghalaya mine tragedy: One crore litre water pumped out, remotely-operated vehicles being used for rescue mission, state govt tells SC
6 years, 2 months ago

Meghalaya mine tragedy: One crore litre water pumped out, remotely-operated vehicles being used for rescue mission, state govt tells SC

Firstpost  

The state government told a bench of Justices AK Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer that one crore litre of water has been pumped out so far from the illegal mine but seepage form nearby rivers was creating hurdles in the rescue operation. New Delhi: The Meghalaya government informed the Supreme Court on Friday that the Indian Navy has deployed five …

Meghalaya mine tragedy: Despite large-scale exploitation, successive govts colluded in concealing illegal mining in North East
6 years, 2 months ago

Meghalaya mine tragedy: Despite large-scale exploitation, successive govts colluded in concealing illegal mining in North East

Firstpost  

The issue of illegal mining in India was raised multiple times in the Parliament, and both the UPA and NDA answered them, yet Meghalaya doesn’t feature anywhere in their responses Illegal mining is like slavery. It was pushed into the limelight when Congress which ruled at the Centre encouraged investigations by the CBI and the Lok Ayukata into illegal mining …

Following mining mishap in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills, Congress urges state govt to legalise coal mining
6 years, 3 months ago

Following mining mishap in Meghalaya's East Jaintia Hills, Congress urges state govt to legalise coal mining

Firstpost  

The demand comes following the coal mine disaster in Meghalaya in which 15 people are still trapped in a flooded illegal rat-hole mine at Lumthari village. Shillong: The Opposition Congress in Meghalaya has urged the state government to take steps for legalising coal mining, alleging “rampant” unlawful mining activities in the region. The demand comes following the coal mine disaster …

Plight of trapped miners in Meghalaya raises important question: Just how low will mining elite stoop to make a profit?
6 years, 3 months ago

Plight of trapped miners in Meghalaya raises important question: Just how low will mining elite stoop to make a profit?

Firstpost  

Only by a strange twist of fate will the miners — trapped in the flooded mine at Ksan in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills for over two weeks — survive the catastrophe Only by a strange twist of fate will the miners — trapped in the flooded mine at Ksan in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills for over two weeks — survive …

Illegal coal mining in Meghalaya's killer 'rat holes' continues amid state govt indifference to rampant violations
6 years, 3 months ago

Illegal coal mining in Meghalaya's killer 'rat holes' continues amid state govt indifference to rampant violations

Firstpost  

Shillong: Coal miners in Meghalaya go down what’s literally a rat hole. Meanwhile, at least five petitions by mine owners have challenged the NGT’s ban on coal mining in Meghalaya and are pending in the Supreme Court. GK Srivastav, joint general secretary of the all India coal workers’ federation, said the mines in Meghalaya are completely illegal and run by …

In Meghalaya, where it took 15 deaths for the reality of illegal mining to hit hard
6 years, 3 months ago

In Meghalaya, where it took 15 deaths for the reality of illegal mining to hit hard

The Hindu  

An ‘underground economy’ has for long been known to fuel Meghalaya’s politics. It has taken the collapse of a coal mine and – in all probability – the death of at least 15 miners for the reality of illegal mining to hit hard. Singh of the North Eastern Hill University that said mining in the coal belts and coal stockpiles …

Search for trapped miners resumes in Meghalaya; case filed against government to seek compensation for victims' kin
6 years, 3 months ago

Search for trapped miners resumes in Meghalaya; case filed against government to seek compensation for victims' kin

Firstpost  

The search operation launched to trace at least 14 labourers, trapped in an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district, resumed Wednesday after it took a hit due to strong winds and heavy rains Shillong: The search operation launched to trace at least 14 labourers, trapped in an illegal coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district, resumed …

Meghalaya cabinet urges central govt to exempt the state from coal mine laws
8 years, 9 months ago

Meghalaya cabinet urges central govt to exempt the state from coal mine laws

Firstpost  

The Meghalaya cabinet on Friday decided to urge the central government to exempt the state from the purview of the Coal Mines Act. Shillong: The Meghalaya cabinet on Friday decided to urge the central government to exempt the state from the purview of the Coal Mines Act, 1973, following the National Green Tribunal’s ban on rat-hole coal mining in the …

Villagers hail NGT order banning coal mining in Meghalaya
10 years, 7 months ago

Villagers hail NGT order banning coal mining in Meghalaya

Firstpost  

Villagers living downstream of Myntdu river along the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya’s Jaintia Hills district have welcomed the National Green Tribunal order banning coal mining in the entire state. Karkhana: Villagers living downstream of Myntdu river along the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya’s Jaintia Hills district have welcomed the National Green Tribunal order banning coal mining in the entire state. These …

NGT upholds ban on coal mining in Meghalaya
10 years, 7 months ago

NGT upholds ban on coal mining in Meghalaya

The Hindu  

Noting that right to life is far more significant than economic interest of a state or an individual, the National Green Tribunal has upheld its ban on coal mining in Meghalaya. “Article 21 of the Constitution of India, gives prominence to the right to life, than any other interest including economic interest of the State or the individuals. The bench …

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