Shillong, Aug. 22: Cases of blatant violation of the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) orders have been widely reported with Meghalaya police intercepting coal-laden trucks even when the transportation window was closed months ago.

From July 1 until August 19, there have been at least 40 cases of alleged violations of the tribunal's orders on coal mining and transportation.

The police have intercepted coal-laden trucks and apprehended labourers who were indulging in mining.

This month alone, there have been at least 20 reported violations. The trucks were mostly intercepted at various locations under Jaintia hills, East Khasi Hills and Ri Bhoi districts. However, the cases of illegal mining were all reported from East Jaintia Hills.

The extracted and assessed coal was last allowed to be transported from October last year until May this year.

The NGT had imposed an interim ban on coal mining in Meghalaya since April 2014, but had allowed transportation of the extracted and assessed coal at regular intervals. Such violations have been taking place since the ban was put into effect.

The coal-mining ban has affected thousands of people who were dependent on the mining for years now.

In his Independence Day address, chief minister Mukul Sangma said the embargo imposed by the tribunal on unregulated mining in the state has adversely impacted the livelihood of about 5,000 miners and thousands more who are directly or indirectly dependent on coal mining.

Earlier this year, the chief minister had announced the state government's plan to carry out coal mining by the state-owned Meghalaya Mineral Development Corporation Limited by working out a revenue-sharing pattern in order to regulate mining activities in the state.

However, this was opposed by various coalminers.

Apart from the violation of NGT orders on coal mining, there are also reports of illegal sand mining and stone quarrying under Pynursla civil subdivision in the East Khasi Hills.

To prevent danger to human life, health and safety, and to safeguard the environment, the sub-divisional magistrate of Pynursla civil subdivision has promulgated an order under Section 144 CrPC.

The magistrate has restrained any person, company or authority from illegal stone quarrying and sand mining in the hill slopes and removal of sand from river-beds without obtaining permission/licence from the competent authority.

The order was promulgated following reports that these illegal activities were taking place in various parts of Pynursla civil subdivision.