The opposition today stated that it will take the State government head on if it fails to act on the report of the quantity of coal assessed differing significantly from the stock lying at the depot at Maweit, West Khasi Hills raising doubts on the coal auctioned by Coal India Limited (CIL).
“We expect the government to act. Why? Because under Section 21 of the MMDR Act 1957, the matter is a cognisable offence requiring the authorities to act on the inputs. They do not have to wait for anybody to go for an FIR because it is a cognisable offence like POCSO case where you see hyperactive police to ensure this provision of the law is ensured,” Trinamool Congress leader Dr. Mukul Sangma said today.
“Similarly in this case it should but if it does not happen it will prove beyond doubt the complicity of the authorities. And when I talk about the complicity of the authorities concerned, it is at multiple levels inclusive of all those who should take cognisance,” he added.
“Now which coal are they talking about to auction? Who are the authorities who are assigned as far as the judgement of the Supreme Court in respect to illegal mining in Meghalaya? Read the judgement dated 3 July 2019,” he added.
Dr. Sangma further said, “I would like to caution everybody who is thinking that they are going to have immunity inspite of being complicit in facilitating this kind of irregularities which can have a crippling effect on the economy of the State.”
“Let us see whether the government takes cognisance of this irregularity and acts upon or otherwise we will take the government head on,” he added.
