Meghalaya permits coal transportation just three days after SC ban

Guwahati, 20 January 2019:

The Meghalaya government has once again permitted the transportation of coal throughout the state just three days after implementing a Supreme Court (SC) ban to scrap coal transportation.

The government issued the modified order on Friday, just days prior to a SC hearing.

The order issued by Tining Dkhar, Commissioner and Secretary of Mining and Geology, allows transportation of coal that "originates outside the state of Meghalaya and being transported through the state for consumption by factories, general households or export".

The modified order now permits the transport of coal ore which was "located" and was "in transit" before the Supreme Court order.

On January 15, the Supreme Court  banned the coal transport through Meghalaya in wake of the of the coal-mine tragedy in which 15 miners are trapped inside a flooded mine in East Jaintia District of Meghalaya for 36 days running now.

The modified order states that no challan will be issued for "The coal which has originated outside the state of Meghalaya and being transported through the state of Meghalaya for consumption by factories, general household or export etc."