SHILLONG, APR 19: The Meghalaya government was on Thursday smacked on the issue of illegal coal mining taking place in the state and leakage of revenue from the transportation of extracted coal even as a question was raised as to how a “bunch of crooks” keep on outsmarting the entire government.The issue was raised when opposition Congress MLA from Umroi George Bankyntiew Lyngdoh was drawing the attention of the government on the alleged rampant illegal coal mining reported in South West Khasi Hills District during the ongoing Assembly here.
Moving a call attention motion, Lyngdoh expressed concern over five points which include illegal rat-hole mining, forcing of children to work as coal labourers, negative impact of mining on the environment, overloading of coal trucks and circulation of fake challans.
He alleged that the assessed coal was more than the extracted coal due to use of only “measuring tape” by the authorities appointed by the NGT to know the quantity or assess the already extracted coal that was lying in the different parts of the state.
“This has open a window to the miners to keep on digging the coal without any iota of fear and respect on the ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal,” he said.
The MLA also expressed concern on the constant engagement of children as coal labourers and said that this only depicts the deplorable condition of the citizens of the state due to lack of avenues for livelihood.
He went on to criticize the state government for its failure to undertake activities to ensure the social and economic upliftment of the less fortunate citizens that are there in the coal mining areas.
According to him, coal mining is such a lucrative and profitable activity that the lust for wealth has ensured disrespect for fellow humans, destruction of childhood innocence and brutal and reckless violation against the environment.
Pointing out that the issue of fake challans is not new as several audit reports over the years have indicated prevalence of fake challans in the state, Lyngdoh said that he strongly suspects that this is an “organized racket” that is hell bent only to loot the public money.
“Moreover, how come a bunch of crooks keep on outsmarting the entire government. What has happened to the FIRs filed on this regard and have police ever nab the kingpins who are behind this organized effort to loot the state’s treasury,” he said.
Lyngdoh while sympathizing with the plight of the monitoring authority also sought to know what happen to the hundreds of trucks that were caught plying and transporting of coal with fake challans and without challans.
Stating that such illegal activities are in violation of the applicable laws and also the NGT ban on coal mining, he further slammed the government for allowing such lawlessness to prevail in the state.
Referring to the recent reply of the chief minister on steps taken to deal with the issue of fake challans and reaffirming the resolution passed in 2015 to restart coal mining, Lyngdoh however said, “But with all these (illegal) activities happening, this exercise of debate and discussion besides the CM running to the PMO, I think now it’s a waste of time and public money because simultaneously coal is being mined everywhere across the state and lawlessness is being allowed to prevail.”
The Umroi MLA further demanded for a thorough investigation by the directorate of mineral resources (DMR) and police on the issue of fake challans and illegal coal trucks in order to arrest the entire rampant breaking of the law in the state.
“My question is whose behind this synchronized mockery of this house which is the temple of democracy and whose behind this entire nexus and what to do we do to the offenders,” he said.
In his reply, chief minister Conrad K Sangma assured that the House that the government is committed to ensure that the economy of the state do not suffer and impact on the environment due to coal mining is minimized.
“I want to assure this House that responsible mining will be done and the government will find a way to strike a balance between the economy and safety of the environment and the miners,” he said.
He said that the government is making a way forward and it is trying to give a proper structure to the whole system and once the issue of ban on coal mining is solved, things will come into place.
Conrad also assured that the government will have a follow up on the FIRs filed against fake challans and ensure action is taken against those involved. “We will follow up the FIRs as we are also concern as it is a loss of revenue to the state and if we do find, we will accordingly act and take action on this,”
Earlier, the chief minister said that no illegal coal mining has been detected or reported till date in South West Khasi Hills District as per report from the deputy commissioner.
The district administration had deputed designated officers as executive magistrates for NGT purposes to monitor illegal mining if any, transportation of extracted coal and any violation of NGT’s directives.
Conrad said that report which alleged rampant illegal coal mining in the district was from the Bangladesh side where coal is stocked for further transport. The extra assistant commissioner in-charge Ranikor Administration Unit has been directed to conduct detailed enquiry on the matter, he added.
By Our Reporter
+ There are no comments
Add yours