Two social activists from Garo Hills have expressed doubt about the genuineness of the quantity of seized coal which was to be auctioned by the authorities.
It may be mentioned that the Directorate of Mineral Resources has uploaded the quantity of coal lying at various coal depots as claimed by the coal owner and the State government.
Four coal owners whose name appeared in the uploaded auction inventory have made claims regarding their quantity of coal. Sebastian D. Shira had claimed to have 3.635 tons of coal, Tharamol Sangma had claimed to have 2.402 tons, Holybirth Sangma (5.212 tons), Pedindro M. Sangma (3.851 tons). Nine other coal owners did not mention the quantity of their coals.
However, Kingstone Bolwary and Ropul S. Marak have written to Justice (Retd) B P Katakey requesting for spot inspection to verify if the quantity of coal to be auctioned is correct as per the inventory list.
Justice Katakey was appointed by the Meghalaya High Court to recommend to the State government the measures on coal-related issues and to finalise a comprehensive policy for the transportation and auction of already extracted coal.
“The people of South Garo Hills are doubtful on the genuineness of the quantity of coal uploaded for the purpose of auctioning and there are verbal complaint from the public in general who do not want to disclose their names for their personal difficulties/reasons that there is no coal as claimed by the above mentioned coal owners but surprisingly they are claiming that they are possessing such quantity of coal,” Bolwary and Marak said in the letter to Justice Katakey.
The two activists also urged Justice Katakey to conduct spot inquiry in order to ascertain the truth and genuineness of the claim of the coal owners and to submit the finding before the full bench of the Meghalaya High Court.
Meanwhile, Justice Katakey today submitted his 17th interim report to the High Court. In addition, a status report has been filed today by Justice Katakey in pursuance of the previous High Court order of August 29.
