Chief Minister Conrad Sangma is yet to clarify on serious allegations that he and some of his ministers were involved in the Mawpdang land scam and illegal coal racket.
Today, the chief minister addressed NPP rallies in two constituencies in North Garo Hills – Resubelpara and Mendipathar but he did not make any comments on the twin allegations against him.
It may be mentioned that Trinamool Congress leader Dr. Mukul Sangma had yesterday exposed the land scam in Mawpdang area of New Shillong involving financial discrepancies amounting to over Rs 140 crore.
He alleged that the MDA government purchased a land of around 807 acres from the residents of Mawkhanu village in Mawpdang at the rate of Rs 45 per square feet for which the government ultimately paid to the middlemen, a very highly inflated rate of Rs 85 per square feet.
Dr. Sangma also accused Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Revenue Minister Kyrmen Shylla, and Urban Affairs Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar of being involved in this “criminal conspiracy to rob the State of such a huge amount of money” in connivance with a middleman.
According to him, the MDA government had the middleman purchase the land, duped the innocent landowners and villagers at the throwaway price of Rs 45 per square feet, and then made a payment of Rs 85 per square feet to the middleman.
“The rates were decided by the cabinet on the 4th October, 2021. The Minister for Urban Affairs piloted this proposal and it was appropriately approved by the Department of Revenue. All cabinet items are approved by the Chief Minister. Therefore, the documents show that the three persons – the Chief Minister, Revenue Minister, and Urban Affairs Minister – have entered into a criminal conspiracy to rob the State of such a huge amount of money – Rs 140 crore – which could have been given to the innocent land owners,” Dr. Sangma had said.
Dr. Sangma said that the Central government must take cognisance of the matter and initiate immediate investigation into this massive land scam.
Similarly, in another serious revelation, a coal trader John Frankie Rymbai had yesterday alleged that illegal transportation of coal in Meghalaya was carried out with the full knowledge of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma who also holds the Mining and Geology Department along with a “close aide of Sangma”, then Transport Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar and his successor Dasakhiat Lamare.
Addressing the media, Rymbai said that the ground work for illegal transportation of coal from Jaintia Hills is being monitored and assisted by a close aide of cabinet minister and Khliehriat MLA Kyrmen Shylla, present Transport Minister Dasakhiat Lamare with the help of Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui and police to facilitate the safe passage of illegal coal transportation without challan.
“These three departments are working hand in glove to loot the State revenue especially in the last three years from 2020,” Rymbai said.
He also said that the illegal coal transportation from West Khasi Hills to Assam via Garo Hills and via Ri-Bhoi was being assisted by Mawshynrut MLA Gigur Myrthong who is also the adviser to the Chief Minister.
“The successful bidder of the auctioned coal all over Meghalaya is equally accountable for the nexus with the government to manipulate the system to be corrupted with the blessing of the government and political thieves,” Rymbai said.
“The government does not want to implement the mining policy as they wanted to make money from this huge coal racket,” he added.
