NGT allows auctioning of 2lakhs metric tons coals

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 12, 2020

In a major relief to the coal owners, the National Green Tribunal has decided to allow auctioning of two lakhs metric tonnes of coals.

Informing this, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced that the NGT committee has approved on pilot basis auction of 2 lakh MT of coal out of the total 32,56,715 MT.

He also said that temporary depot will be established, environment norms will be followed in the depot during auction and transportation.

The Supreme Court on 3.7.2019 lifted the ban on rat hole mining of coals and also order that the 32 lakh metric tonnes of extracted coals to be auction by the Coals India Limited.

The break-up of the auction from different districts of the State are – East Jaintia Hills – 75,000 MT, West Khasi Hills – 50,000 MT, South West Khasi Hills – 25,000 MT and South Garo Hills – 50,000 MT.

He thanked the NGT committee, officials of Coal India Ltd, Metal Scrap and Trading Corporation and officials of the Mining and Geology Department for having worked tirelessly for the last seven months, discussing and negotiating different terms and conditions.

He said, “Several checks and balances like the presence of CIL officials and full proof security measures like the QR code will be introduced, hologram, fugitive ink and four copies of challan.”

The Chief Minister further stated that measures have been put in place to ensure transparent mechanism in place, including online auctioning at an all India level by the MSTC limited platform.

MSTC is Government of India PSU. The auctioning price of the coal will be as per the rate of Coal India Limited.

“We hope that through these process of auctioning we will be able to obtain the highest price for our coal,” the Chief Minister said, while adding that through the same process 32 lakh MT of coal will be auctioned at a latter stage, which will enable revenue earning of about 500 crore.

The Chief Minister also informed that Government will soon ensure that environmental friendly and scientific mining is initiated in the State.