Shillong, Feb 7: Authorities in East Jaintia Hills have seized approximately 6,904 metric ton of illegally mined coal from 21 locations in the district.
The enforcement drive against illegal mining, which began yesterday, was after 25 coal miners were killed in a dynamite explosion at an illegal coal mine in Thangsko area.
According to Deputy Commissioner Manish Kumar, about 3197 metric tons of coal was seized from nine locations under Umlawang and approximately 351 metric ton from four locations under Umthe.
He said on the first day of the enforcement drive (February 6), illegally mined coal of about 3,356 metric tons was seized from eight locations along the Sakhain–Thangsko road.
Besides seizure of tools and equipment, authorities also destroyed makeshift camps.
Kumar said FIRs have been registered in connection with reported illegal mining activities, and further legal action is underway.
An order under Section 163 BNSS was clamped for the public safety during the ongoing operations, being carried out by five teams of officials, comprising of Executive Magistrates, Police and officials from the Directorate of Mineral Resources (DMR).
Kumar has urged the public to cooperate with authorities, stop illegal mining and to avoid visiting hazardous or restricted mining areas.
The state police and Meghalaya government had continuously insisted that they are combating cases of illegal coal mining and transportation. However things are not as claimed on the ground, that the recent tragedy has left authorities red-faced.
Even Justice (Retd) BP Katakey, head of the single-member committee constituted by the Meghalaya High Court, has been making the right noises that illegalities continue to thrive, which he did witness yesterday during his visit to the tragedy site.
