Champer M. Sangma who filed a PIL regarding illegal mining and transportation of coal in Meghalaya said that the racket is still continuing in the State and recently two coal miners have died in the mines in South Garo Hills.
During hearing of his PIL in the division bench of the Meghalaya High Court today, Sangma said stated that illegal mining and the illegal transportation of illegally-mined coal continues merrily in the State and even the death of two coal workers from Assam in the South Garo Hills district has gone unnoticed and has not been reported in the newspapers in the State.
Sangma’s lawyer Sujit Dey told the High Court that he has confirmation regarding the death of the two miners from a Superintendent of Police in one of the neighbouring districts of Assam. However, Dey stated that the Superintendent of Police has since become wiser and has not answered any further phone calls.
Sangma also claimed to have video footage of the illegal mining activities and the transportation of the illegally-mined coal.
On this, the High Court asked him to ensure that such video footage can be viewed in court at the next hearing on July 4.
“A senior government official should be present to immediately respond to whatever is revealed from the relevant video footage,” the court ordered.
