Decide on exemption of MMD Act within 1 month: Supreme Court to Centre

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 19, 2019

JOWAI:  The Supreme Court today ordered the Central Govt. to take a final decision on the proposal of Meghalaya Government for exempting the implementation of the Mines and Mineral Development Act in the State of Meghalaya within one month.

The order was issued during the hearing of the petition DN No 3067 of 2018 filed by Lber Laloo versus the All Dima Hasso Students Union.

During the hearing, it was argued that the Ministry of Coal has already given consent to grant an exemption to Meghalaya for coal and lignite which communicated by it to Ministry of Home, Govt. of India on 10.8.2015. Notably, the Supreme Court has already directed the Central Govt. on 7.5.2018 to take a decision before 30th July 2018 but the Central Govt. did not take any decisions till now.

However, Additional Solicitor General who appeared for Central Govt. informed the Court that Centre has communicated some issues in December 2018 to the Govt. of Meghalaya and response is awaited.

On the issue of transportation, the Supreme Court recorded that the Govt. of Meghalaya has constituted a technical committee to assess the coal already extracted. The Supreme Court directed technical committee of Govt. of Meghalaya to give the report on claims made by the applicants seeking transportation within four weeks.

Some of the lawyers made allegations and asked for stopping of auction by Govt but the Supreme Court declined to pass any order on the prayer of the some of the lawyers. Thus if within one month the Central Govt accepts the proposal of the State Govt. mining can be started without any difficulties and the issue of transportation does not arise as the opening of coal mining would end the issue of transportation also.

So far as Kakoti Committee is concerned, the said issue will get resolved as it will have no relevance in case of progress on the front of mining and transportation.

It also directed the Central Government to complete all formalities and document works related to Coal Mining in Meghalaya within six weeks time. The case is now listed on 26.3.2019 and the Supreme Court would decide pending issues.