Shillong, Feb 11:In the latest in a series of statements that defy belief, cabinet minister Wailadmiki Shylla today said that the Meghalaya government was “shocked” to learn that illegal coal mining was being carried out in the state.
Members of the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government have been grasping at straws to explain their actions before and after the deadly Thangsko mining accident of last week, which has claimed the lives of at least 32 people.
Bizarre statements have already been made by both Deputy Chief Ministers – Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar – and today was the turn of Shylla, who is the MDA spokesperson.
While Dhar said that the government was taking “proactive” steps even when it was clearly only reacting after the disaster occurred, Tynsong had meekly suggested that the remoteness of the illegal mines made it hard for the authorities to reach them, plainly ignoring the fact that hundreds of labourers got into the mines and tonnes of coal leaves them. He also tried to justify not wanting central government forces to augment the (apparently benign) efforts of the state police in stamping out illegal mining.
Shylla, who visited Thangsko after the explosion, referred to its remoteness. But he also said that the government was under the impression that new mining activities were not taking place. All coal moving out of the state was thought to be stored coal that had been accounted for at depots, Shylla added.
“We thought the coal being transported was old stock mined earlier and on record. We were not aware that fresh mining was taking place. Even I was shocked when I visited the site and saw fresh mining activities,” he said.
Today the death toll rose to 32, as two miners undergoing treatment at NEIGRIHMS, Shillong and Agile Hospital, Guwahati succumbed to their injuries. There are 10 people still injured. Search and rescue teams called off their operations at the site two days ago after extensive searches.
Shylla’s statements today beggar belief. Repeated warnings from Justice (retd) BP Katakey that illegal mining was still carrying on and numerous allegations in the press and social media make the minister’s claims of “shock” rather shocking on their own.
Speaking to reporters, Shylla said the government takes full responsibility for the incident and is prepared to defend its position when confronted by the opposition. With the Assembly session set to begin on February 16, the government will almost certainly have to answer questions on the issue.
“Time and again, we have mentioned that the government is trying its level best to stop illegal activities,” Shylla said. “During our ground visit, we were shocked to find that the blast site was deep inside the forest. However, we have been making efforts to curb such activities and have seized vehicles and coal in the past.”
He maintained that the location of the blast was difficult to access, suggesting that monitoring operations in such remote areas posed significant challenges. Aerial surveys, however, have been conducted successfully, with thousands of illegal mining operations exposed via drone, which makes Shylla’s explanation tenuous at best.
Responding to demands for Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s resignation, as he is not only head of the government but also Mining Minister, Shylla said it was “too soon” to comment on such calls but that he does not think it necessary.
Shylla confirmed that the government has instituted a judicial inquiry commission into the incident, although this is so far in name only as the members of the commission have yet to be finalised.
As of yesterday police had arrested four people described as owners of the mine. Shylla assured that action would not be limited to those low on the ladder. “We will go after everybody involved. We are not leaving anybody. Apart from drivers and workers, some mine owners have also been arrested. I believe two more arrests have been made,” he said.
