Altogether 1, 652 cases related to illegal coal transportation have been registered in the state since 2014 till August 31, 2022.
This was informed by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma in his reply to a call attention motion in the Assembly today. He said of the total cases registered, 1,354 cases have been chargesheeted and 472 people convicted.
He said as many as 109 cases have also been registered against illegal mining and extraction of coal, of which chargesheets have been submitted in 108 cases and 103 people have been convicted.
Sangma said that the government is concerned about illegal mining and is leaving no stone unturned to stop it.
About the recent accident at a coal mine in West Khasi Hills district in which two miners died and one person was injured, Sangma said one Hubert Sangma clandestinely operated the mine located in a remote area.
The coal mine owner has been arrested and an investigation is on, he said.
An ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh was released to the next of kin of the deceased while Rs 50,000 was handed over to the injured, as per the recommendation of a committee of the National Green Tribunal.
