The National Green Tribunal (NGT) appointed panel has decided to recommend the environment watch dog payment of additional compensation to the next of kin of coal miners killed in Meghalaya.
16 miners were lost their lives inside illegal rat-hole coal mine at Khloo Ryngksan area on December 13, 2018, and two others at Mooknor area in East Jaintia Hills district on January 6, 2019.
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Besides, 15 miners were trapped in a rat-hole coal mine on July 6, 2012 at Nengkol in Rongsa Awe region in South Garo Hills in 2012.
“We have decided to make recommendation for payment of some additional amount apart from the amount which has already been released to them to the NGT,” Justice (retired) BP Katakey said.
He said the committee will submit its report in this month and it is scheduled to be considered by the NGT on December 6, next.
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The Meghalaya government had paid Rs 1 lakh and another Rs 2 lakh was sanctioned from the Prime Minister Relief Fund.
Though the Meghalaya government sanctioned a compensation of Rs 1 lakh each to the next of kin of coal miners as per the NGT’s directive, the government is yet to disburse the compensation.
“We have asked the state government to do the verification through the DC of those respective districts in Assam to ensure that right next of kin of the persons duly received the compensation,” Katakey said.