Shillong MP Vincent Pala tore into the way the State government is handling the coal situation in the State, calling it uncoordinated and confused while suggesting that it is aiding in widespread corruption.
“There are no doubts that the present government has not only mishandled this issue but there is also a lack of coordination in dealing with it,” Pala told Highland Post today.
Despite Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma saying several times that the auction of coal will take place in a couple of weeks, there has been no movement on this, with Pala adding, “Coal India Ltd is saying that the government is not able to hand over the coal but the auctioning is being done by the District Magistrate, Deputy Commissioners, etc and I see that there is total confusion and no coordination at all in handling this issue.”
There are those who are benefitting from this state of confusion, however, according to the MP: people connected to those in power.
“How could illegal transportation of coal take place on a stretch of road of 400 kilometres from Jaiñtia Hills to Guwahati without the nexus between the one carrying the coal and the one checking for it? Those without political connections are meanwhile caught during transportation,” he said.
Pala also stated that extortion demands from “goondas” are growing, while the powerful are having civil servants and police officers transferred according to their whims and fancies. He also attacked the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance, calling it a confused alliance where the members are slinging allegations and filing criminal complaints against each other.
