Coal miners’ forum demands govt to auction 32 lakh mt of coal

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 13, 2020

The State Coordination Committee of Coal Owners, Miners, Exporters, Transporters & Dealers’ Forum (SCCCOMETDF) has demanded the state government to start the process of auctioning the 32 lakh metric tonnes of extracted coal.

In a letter to the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday, the Forum has expressed strong resentment against the government’s decision to permit coal laden trucks to ply from Assam to cement plants in East Jaintia Hills despite Assam being COVID-19 hotspot in the North East region.

Stating that the decision is highly condemnable, the Forum demanded the state government to put on hold permitted order to allow coal laden trucks to cater the requirement of the cement companies in East Jaintia Hills.

“The Forum would rather insist on the State Government to put in more effort in obtaining the go ahead direction to start the process of auctioning of the 32 lakhs metric tonnes of the extracted coal as claimed by the State Government in the sworn in affidavit before the Hon’ble Supreme Court in June last year,” Secretary of the Forum M Kharkongor said in the letter.

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Kharkongor also reminded that out of the 32 lakhs metric tones, the NGT has permitted 2 lakhs metric tonnes for transportation. “…State Government should utilize the said extracted coal instead of importing coal from outside the State,” he further asserted.

Meanwhile, the Forum has also expressed full support to the NGOs in East Jaintia Hills who are opposing the importing of coal from outside the State.