Zenith hints at nexus between govt, coal mafia

SHILLONG: The illegal mining in Meghalaya proves that political bosses in the government and the coal mafia have collusion, Congress legislator Zenith Sangma said on Wednesday.
Sangma, while criticising the chief minister for ruling out claims of illegal mining, said the state government has no control over the situation.
Replying to a query about the attack on CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing, the senior leader said it reflected lawlessness and anarchy in the state.
“This is the prime facie evidence that illegal mining is going on and the government does not have control. Rather it is the reflection of the nexus between the political bosses in the government and the coal mafia in the state of Meghalaya. There should be an impartial and clean judicial probe into this so that in future such incidents do not take place,” he added.
When asked about the recent statement of the deputy chief minister where he had blamed the previous government for not solving the issue of mining ban, Sangma said the new government is blaming others because it could not live up to the pre-poll promise to lift ban on mining within 90 days of coming to power.
Sangma also slammed minister and Khliehriat MLA Kyrmen Shylla over his statement that there was no illegal coal mining in his constituency. “Though he is a minister he does not know what is happening in his constituency,” he added.