Judgment of the National Green Tribunal (Eastern Zone Bench, Kolkata) in the matter of Farkul Islam Barbhuiya & Others Vs State of Meghalaya & Others dated 11/04/2022.

The matter pertains to rat hole mining in Meghalaya. The NGT directed the state of Meghalaya to ensure that rat hole mining is completely restrained and regular monitoring carried out by the Department of Mines and Geology and the police department.

The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board and the government of Meghalaya shall take all remedial measures for rejuvenation of all the polluted rivers and regularly monitor the water quality of the river by collecting samples to check for Ph and sulphate and upload it at regular intervals on its website. Ensure completion of the afforestation programme and the land measuring 224.26 hectares of land identified for planting across 8 districts is duly afforestated by December 31, 2024, the judgment of the NGT, April 11, 2022 said.