SHILLONG: With the politicians, their business partners and supporters, who are coal barons owning majority of coal mines, there is a possibility that the Government may dump the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order to ban coal mining in Meghalaya.
Chie Minister Mukul Sangma’s wife Dikanchi Shira, who herself is a legislator, has coal mines in four locations in West Khasi Hills and one location in East Garo Hills.
The coal mines are scattered at Domnirang, Nirang, Mawbon Agal, Dombinba, Tarajak , Wahmai, Thadteja all in West Khasi Hills and mines at Jamge,Songsak, East Garo Hills as per records.
In this context the Chief Minister refused to take a stand on the issue of rat hole mining when a journalist asked whether the coal mining activities are legal or not after the Cabinet meeting held on Friday.
Besides Chief Minister’s wife, the sitting MP Vincent Pala has mines in parts of Jaintia Hills.
However, he is also yet to make clear his stand on the ban on rat hole mining of coal in Jaintia Hills.
Others namely PWD Minister Sniawbhalang Dhar, former legislator Shitlang Pale, legislators Comingone Ymbon, Justine Dkhar, Hopeful Bamon( all from Jaintia Hills) and Ngaitlang Dhar (now representing Umroi) are directly or indirectly associated with coal business.
In the past, former Congress legislator Nehlang Lyngdoh, who is also associated with the coal mining activities, had said that he decided not to contest the Assembly elections of 2013 as politics has affected his business activities especially in relation to coal export.
Moreover, it is not only the present and past politicians, who are engaging in coal export business, but also the relatives of police officers and some police officers themselves as per reports.