SHILLONG: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma has alleged that the Congress party in the state never made a serious effort to lift the ban on coal mining which has remained imposed since 2014.
Reacting to a statement of Congress MP Vincent Pala that some Ministers in the Government are getting a cut for allowing illegal transportation of coal, Sangma said, “if that is what they are saying, I think that is what they were doing during their time when they were in the Government and they are speaking from their own experience on why they had delayed the whole thing for four years.”
He alleged that in the past four years of the imposition of ban on coal mining, there was never a serious effort by the Congress government to resolve the issue, adding that the MDA Government has made serious efforts in the last one including filing of a case in the Supreme Court
“Efforts made by us reflects the intention of the Government and if they are making the allegation, they can present their case,” Sangma said.
The Chief Minister further stated that the Government was committed and working very hard to ensure that proper scientific mining is carried out in the state with total regard to environment and safety of miners.
Following the allegations of Pala, Deputy Chief Minister, Prestone Tynsong had asked the MP to be specific and give the name of the ministers who are involved in such practices.
