SHILLONG: Opposition leader, Mukul Sangma has torn apart the State Government accusing it of creating a cartel for facilitating illegal mining of coal and its transportation.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Mukul Sangma said that there is a complete attempt by the State Government to scuttle the process of Lokayukta which recently ordered for a CBI inquiry into the matter pertaining to illegal coal mining and its transportation.
“We will now allow this to happen and will pressurise the government to ensure that Meghalaya is not defamed and subjected to narratives revolving around corruption,” the LO said.
Informing that the matter of illegal coal mining was discussed among the party functionaries, he said that the Opposition would ensure that the Government does not deviate from its responsibilities and those involved in irregular and corrupt practices are brought under the purview of the law of the land.
Slamming Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma for continuing to be on the denial mode as far as illegal mining of coal and its transportation is concerned, he even suggested that the anybody or any representative from the Government along with the media and independent bodies besides political parties can check what is actually happening on the ground zero.
“Everyone knows what is happening . You go to Assam there is a cartel and they have created a cartel to engage in irregularities by depriving the state and autonomous District Councils from the scarce resources and bringing a bad name to the state,” he said.
Asking the silent spectators to speak up, he recalled that there were lots of friends who were echoing for anti-graft law and now when its mandated by law, the process of that particular legislation must continue.
Stating that the people who are involved in the corruption practices cannot go scot-free as there are enough evidences with the people about the illegal activities, he added that the Lokayukta in Meghalaya is going into the matter as per the law.
“None of the people who are involved in this will go scot-free and it is time for the officers not to act as a pawn in the cartel,” he said
Informing about a new complaint which has been submitted before the NGT, the Opposition leader said that the Government have found a new way of facilitating illegal coal mining and its transportation by way of the so called process of seizing unclaimed coal.
Sangma alleged that the modus operandi of the Government is that they claim there is unclaimed coal and whenever any unclaimed asset is there, a process has to be followed to verify the owner of the asset but in the case of Meghalaya, no such verification was done neither there were any public notice.
He also said that the notification for the auctioning of the coal is issued around 15 days before but such notices are advertised in print media only one day before the auction
He also said that the response of the Government should have been to go after law breakers and not being in denial mode.
Expressing confidence that the inquiry ordered by Lokayukta will reveal everything, he also said that all should support the findings of the inquiry.