Acting President of the Hill State People’s Democratic Party (HSPDP), KP Pangniang, said that the party will push the state government, of which it is a part, on allegations of corruption and coal-related illegalities.
“We have a minister (in government) and a legislator (in the Assembly) and the party will advise on the need to have a corruption-free government in our state,” Pangniang said today after a central executive committee meeting.
The meeting discussed alleged corruption in the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Ltd (MeECL) and illegal coal mining and transportation, as well as the demand to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the state.
These issues will now be taken up with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
The party is in favour of legalising coal mining activities but wants the government to crack down on illegalities.
Bringing the ILP to the state was a party promise in its manifesto before the 2018 elections, where it only won two seats.
The HSPDP is grateful to the government for passing a resolution to implement ILP in Meghalaya in 2019. Now it remains for the central government to grant such a request.
Pangniang said that the government has done its bit in trying to get the Centre to acquiesce to the ILP and there is no thought of the HSPDP quitting the coalition government if it is not successful.
Meanwhile, on the interstate border dispute with Assam, Pangniang urged Meghalaya villagers not to accept developmental schemes from both governments as this will cause a dilemma in both state governments.
