The Supreme Court Wednesday directed the Meghalaya government to deposit the Rs 100 crore fine imposed on it by the NGT for failing to curb illegal coal mining with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). During the hearing, the state government had admitted that a large number of mines were operating illegally in the northeastern state. The NGT had constituted the committee in August 2018 to supervise and look into the issue of environmental restoration plan and other connected matters in Meghalaya. The committee was constituted during the hearing of the petition which had sought a ban on coal mining in Meghalaya. The apex court had earlier refused to allow the transportation of extracted coal lying across Meghalaya despite several requests by the miners.

Source: dna July 03, 2019 06:56 UTC