Shillong, Nov. 19: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has clarified that a mine owner will be permitted to transport extracted coal only to the extent for which royalty, which is payable to the government, has been cleared.

“The mine owner will be permitted to transport the extracted coal only to the extent for which he has cleared the royalty payable to the state. If a person has extracted 100 tonnes of coal and has only paid the first instalment in terms of our order dated October 7, 2014, then he would be permitted to transport the coal only to the extent of that payment of royalty and no more. If he pays the second instalment, then he would be permitted to further transport coal of that value. If he pays the third instalment, then he would be permitted to transport the entire coal extracted,” the tribunal said in an order issued on November 12.

The tribunal also made it clear that the royalty, whether the entire coal is transported or not, has to be cleared within 45 days in terms of the October 7 order.

Moreover, it stated that the period of 45 days should start upon the payment of first instalment, which in any case should be made by all concerned mine owners within 15 days from November 12.

The clarification from the tribunal came after the Meghalaya government, through its counsel, submitted that a difficulty had arisen because of some “ambiguity and a contradictory interpretation” being given to Clause 7 of the October 7 order by the contending parties.

Lawyers, who appeared for various other parties, submitted before the tribunal that they were finding difficulties in transporting the extracted coal as per the tribunal’s orders as the state has “not provided the requisite infrastructure and facilities regulating the transportation of the same”.

Further, the tribunal directed the state government to immediately provide all infrastructure like weighing machines, weighbridges and toll collection samples at the respective districts to make it convenient for the person to transport the permitted coal in terms of the tribunal’s October 7 order. In line with the November 12 order, the transport department has designated Umling on National Highway 40 in Ri Bhoi district and Sarangma (Dainadubi) on National Highway 62 in the North Garo Hills district as “exit points” for transportation of extracted coal.

At the same time, the directorate of mineral resources, in a notice issued yesterday, stated that royalty could be deposited at its office in Shillong, at the divisional mining offices at Jowai and Williamnagar, the directorate’s branch office in Tura and the royalty collection counter at the office of the West Khasi Hills deputy commissioner in Nongstoin.