SHILLONG | Jul 23, 2015: The Asian Human Rights Commission has appealed the Meghalaya Government to stop seeking more time for coal mine owners to dispose of the extracted coal.

The AHRC said that the State Government has placed an application before the National Green Tribunal to extend the date of transportation and payment of royalty on coal.

According to the AHRC, this application has been made despite the government and mine owners having had one entire year to clear out the previously extracted coal.

“If the Tribunal grants permission to extend the date, the decision will only benefit the coal mine owners allowing them to continue illegal mining in Meghalaya, and thereby cause greater environmental damage and affecting the community and the labourers (children and adults) who are risking their lives in dark pits,” the AHRC said.

The AHRC added that the National Green Tribunal had imposed a ban on rat hole mining in Meghalaya on April 17 to mitigate the consequent effects, but subsequently the National Green Tribunal allowed transportation of previously extracted coal.

“This allowed the coal mine owners to take advantage of the situation,” the AHRC said.

It may be reminded that the NGT court will hear the case related to ban on coal mining in Meghalaya on Thursday.

(Source: http://www.theshillongtimes.com/)