The state government is quietly content that coal mining has yet to receive official permission to restart, Shillong MP Vincent Pala alleged today.
“Those in the higher echelons are happy that coal mining is still not allowed in the state because they are making profits every night through illegal coal mining,” Pala told Highland Post.
Three major coal mining-related accidents have occurred on the current government’s watch since it came to power in 2018 despite the ban on rat-hole mining imposed by the National Green Tribunal.
These accidents occur because mining is going on in secret, whereas there were none when it was legal, Pala, whose family has coal connections, claimed.
He opined that the ban on coal mining without providing an alternative to the people who directly depended on mining has also given rise to such situations.
“Just like you cannot suddenly stop an alcoholic from drinking, the same is the case with coal mining where you cannot stop the activities without providing an alternative to the people because they have to eat,” Pala said, adding that this is the reason he keeps pushing the government to create other employment opportunities as alternatives for the people.
The Congress MP accused the state government of doing little to legalise coal mining because those close to it are profiting from illegal coal mining and transportation.
“The government knows all the ways and means to once again permit coal mining but they don’t want to do it because the higher ups are having a gala time out of this share every night,” he stated, referring to accusations of coal trucks moving through the state at night.
