SHILLONG : In the aftermath of the deadly coal mine explosion that claimed over 30 lives, the District Magistrate of East Jaintia Hills, Manish Kumar, has directed the immediate dismantling of coal lifting cranes and other machinery at the Mynsngat-Thangsko mine site.
In an order issued on Wednesday, the District Magistrate cited public safety concerns, stating that the equipment posed a serious threat to people in the area and could be misused for illegal coal extraction, which has been banned by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) since 2014.
The order states that the dismantling process will be carried out strictly under the supervision of the Investigating Officer, with the entire operation properly documented.
“All unlawful obstructions such as coal lifting cranes, tents and other structures at the place of occurrence at Mynsngat-Thangsko area shall be dismantled,” the order said.
It further directed that the machinery and structures must be photographed before and after dismantling, and that geo-tagging with proper GPS coordinates of the site must be maintained by the Inquiry Officer.
The District Magistrate has instructed that the entire process be recorded and submitted in the form of an Action Taken Report (ATR) at the earliest.
Meanwhile, the Superintendent of Police, East Jaintia Hills, has been directed to ensure the immediate execution of the order.
The directive comes amid intensified action against illegal coal mining in the district following the tragic incident, which has drawn statewide and national attention.