Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Threat to life arising out of coal mining in South Garo Hills district Vs State of Meghalaya & Others dated 17/01/2020 regarding unscientific rat hole mining in the state of Meghalaya - for preventive and remedial action. The committee appointed for the purpose submitted its 6th Interim Report dated December 3, 2019.

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The recommendations of the committee among others included the following:

• Monitoring of illegal raising and transportation of coal by the Chief Secretary of the State, steps for punitive measures for illegal mining – filling up gaps in the regulatory regime 
• action for preventing minimizing and mitigating environment pollution by acidic water from coal depots 
• electronic recording of movement of coal including by way of GPS and RFID Tags and having a central server for the purpose 
• drilling of bore holes in Khlihirt-Sutnga area in East Jaintia Hill District 
• preparation of geological report and feasibility report for scientific coal mining 
• compiling information about location of dumps of coal 
• monitoring of illegal export of coal to Bangladesh by an independent agency 
• adopting satellite surveillance systems.

The committee has been asked to submit its further action taken report after three months.