Shillong MP from the Voice of the People Party (VPP), Ricky AJ Syngkon, today raised the issue of illegal coal mining and transportation in Meghalaya during the budget session of Parliament in New Delhi.
Rat-hole coal mining, the prevalent form, was made illegal in Meghalaya by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2014.
Despite this, Syngkon said that there is a group of people known in the state as ‘high level’ who have continuously and blatantly violated this ban.
“…and even the government machinery, which is supposed to ensure the enforcement of this ban, has miserably failed to enforce this ban,” the MP said.
Syngkon also referred to the Justice (retd) BP Katakey committee, which was appointed by the Meghalaya High Court, that detected more than 1.92 lakh tonnes of illegally mined coal in four districts – East Jaintia Hills, South West Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills and South Garo Hills.
