SHILLONG, Feb 4: Former Deputy Chief Minister and colleague in the MUA government, Bindo M Lanong, has cast aspersions on Congress leader Mukul Sangma for failing to implement the comprehensive mining policy years ago, which was prepared by the Mining and Geology department during Lanong’s tenure as the department in-charge.
Lanong’s scathing attack comes two days after Mukul said that if the state government continues to dawdle over the issue of illegal coal mining, his party will petition Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an independent inquiry into the allegations of mining and transportation of coal in Meghalaya.
“While deprecating any form of illegal mining and trade on coal and other minerals in the state, in support of the Leader of opposition Dr Mukul Sangma, the government is duty-bound to ensure that those who violate the law are liable to face punishment,” Lanong said.
Slamming the Opposition leader, Lanong said that Mukul, who publicly vents his concern on these issues now, equally owes an answer to the public.
“Why as the long-serving chief minister from 2009-2018, when my department of Mining and Geology had prepared a very pragmatic and comprehensive mining policy, as desired by the Centre and the Supreme Court and which was approved by the cabinet in 2011, Dr Mukul did neither announce nor implement the policy? The doors would have been sealed had he implemented the Policy then,” Lanong maintained.
Earlier, the Opposition Congress had said it would approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an independent inquiry into the allegations of illegal mining and transportation of coal in Meghalaya if the state government continues to drag feet.
The Opposition Leader had said that if the state government does not conduct an independent probe, the Prime Minister would if he asked him for it. Mukul had said the Centre would have to intervene in the matter as the illegal activities are carried out within and beyond the boundary of Meghalaya.
