Shillong: Three more illegal coke oven plants were demolished on Wednesday through a controlled explosion in Meghalaya, an official said.
Two of the illegal coke plants, M/S Halari coke plant at Sutnga Elaka and M/S Shauryansi Coke at Wah Samsier, Sutnga in East Jaintia Hills district were demolished, while another coke plant was demolished at Kyllon Mathei village in West Khasi Hills district.
The number of demolished illegal coke plants have risen to seven.
The Meghalaya government said that the ongoing demolition of chimneys and other physical infrastructure of the illegal coke plants will be completed by July 20 in compliance with the Meghalaya High Court order.
Five people who were involved in running these illegal coke plants have been arrested.
“Action had already been initiated against the illegal coke plants in December 2022 by shutting them down and initiating the process of dismantling them to ensure that they do not become operational again,” a government official said.
Further, the government urged all residents, local community members, and relevant stakeholders to support these measures and cooperate with the authorities during the ongoing operation.
State Director General of Police, Lajja Ram Bishnoi had told the High Court that “the actual owners/operators of the illegal coke plants are mostly based in Assam and have been running the illegal business in Meghalaya and several benami transactions have also come to light.”
According to a report of (retd) Justice BP Katakey, coke oven and ferro alloy plants are “flourishing businesses” in the state. Many of these are operating illegally.
The report said there are 13 coke oven plants in operation in the East Jaintia Hills and 38 others non-operational.
In West Jaintia Hills and South West Khasi Hills there are two and six coke oven non operational plants. In West Khasi Hills district there are four coke oven plants in operation and 61 others not in operation.
