State to generate Rs.20 crore revenue from 2 lakh metric tons of coals

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 19, 2020

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday said e-auctioning for transportation of 2 lakh metric tonnes of already extracted coal will soon start.

Sangma told reporters that the government has moved with the Coal India Limited (CIL) on the matter.

“CIL also have some queries which we have clarified. Now everything is in place and through the Metal Scrap & Trading Corporation Ltd (MSTC), the entire e-auction will take place,” he informed.

It may be mentioned here that the NGT committee in March this year, had approved on a pilot basis for auctioning of 2 lakh MT out of the 32 lakh MT of coal in the state. This was based on the Supreme Court’s ruling passed on July 3, last year.

Of this, 75,000 MT of coal is in East Jaintia Hills, 50,000 MT – South Khasi Hills, 25,000 MT – South West Khasi Hills and 50,000 MT – South Garo Hills.

The state is expected to generate revenue amounting to Rs 20 crore from the 2 lakh MT of coal approved while roughly Rs 500 crore from the transportation of 32 lakh MT of coal.

Earlier, a protest was staged by coal miners against the government’s decision to allow transportation of coal from neigbouring states including Assam to cement plants in East Jaintia Hills District. The coal miners have also demanded the government to speed up auctioning of 2 lakh metric tonnes of coal.