The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday expressed serious doubts on the veracity of reports and other records submitted by Meghalaya Government related to a mining accident that allegedly killed 15 people in 2012.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said, “These reports do not seem to be a year-and-a-half old.” He said this after going through some of the documents pertaining to the mishap that occurred on July 6, 2012. When the State Government claimed it was still investigating the incident, the bench shot back saying, “What investigationIJ If you could not find out anything then (2012), what will your investigation do nowIJ We don’t know what to say about all this except that it speaks volumes about your work.”
This remark of the bench came after the State Government’s admission that while such an incident had occurred, it cannot say how many people were actually trapped inside the mine during the accident as a probe is presently on in this regard. The NGT had on October 7 directed the Meghalaya Government to submit the details of the records of the incident, including specific facts related to the probe into the accident, number of workers who worked in the mine amongst others. It had also sought the presence of the Principal Secretary of Mining and Geology Department of the State Government during next hearing.
The orders of the NGT were followed and the Principal Secretary was present before the bench with the records of the incident, which were taken into its custody by the Tribunal.
The State Government however, informed the NGT that the mine owner “has no records of the number of people working in the coal mine”. It also said that according to a statement given by the mine owner, he had tried to cover up the matter when relatives of the miners, who were allegedly trapped in the mine, approached him for money. The bench fixed next date of hearing on December 12 and directed the mine owner’s counsel to ensure his client is present on the said date. The Tribunal was hearing a petition contending that there is a threat to life due to the coal mining in South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.