In the wake of another mining tragedy in the state, leader of the opposition, Dr Mukul Sangma has demanded an independent inquiry into illegal coal mining in all the districts and punish those involved as per law.
“Illegal coal mining won’t have taken place if some powerful people are not behind it. Since the government has time and again denied there is such illegalities going on this has brought losses to the revenue of the state,” Dr Sangma told reporters on the sideline of his visit to West Jaintia Hills to see the preparedness of the district to fight Covid-19.
The leader of opposition also said that illegal coal mining has brought losses to the autonomous district council who earn royalties from the mineral.
He also said that people are not scared to go against the law because people in authority are also involved. He also said that Meghalaya is not such a big state wherein the officers cannot keep their ears and eyes on the ground.
Meanwhile, senior Congress legislator Ampareen Lyngdoh has demanded the state government give clear answers on illegal coal mining taking place in East Jaintia Hills.
“We want a clear answer from the MDA government, what is this ‘tamasha’ about? We are eager to hear what new excuses the MDA will come up with this time. I’m shocked and it’s unimaginable to learn that illegal coal mining in the state is still happening when the state government keeps reassuring us that everything has been banned except for the transportation of the already auctioned coal,” Lyngdoh told Highland Post today.
Expressing sympathy for the families who lost their loved ones in the coal mine, she said, “We cannot say what made the men go to the mines in this pandemic but one thing that is certain is that illegal coal mining is still going on despite the government’s continuous denial.”
Stating that all the prohibitory orders and restrictions keep coming from the Deputy Commissioner offices in this pandemic, she asked, “I want to know if East Jaintia Hills is not under a lockdown or if it has been relieved from the lockdown? We wanted to know what activities are allowed in the district. How come the labourers from Assam were able to reach that remote part of the state in this pandemic? Were they tested on the Covid-19 before entering the state?”
She said that this is a clear exposure that illegal coal mining is rampant even amid this coronavirus pandemic and the government has to answer.
