SHILLONG, Dec 21: Former chief minister and All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) leader Mukul Sangma on Tuesday slammed the MDA government for feigning ignorance and continuing to be in denial mode about illegal coal mining and transportation in the state.
Stating that such activities cannot happen without the government’s nod, he asked the state government to take cognisance of the illegal coal mining and transportation. These are offences under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act of 1957 inviting legal consequences, he pointed out.
Sangma, the AITC’s Meghalaya parliamentary party chief, said the government has to act in the interest of the state and its people.
He insisted that the illegal activities in the coal-bearing districts of South West Khasi Hills, West Khasi Hills, South Garo Hills and East Jaintia Hills have been happening because of the government’s patronage. “It is contrary to the responsibility vested upon the government. Those in authority are duty-bound to protect the interest of the state, failing which they are liable to be unanswerable according to the law of the land,” Sangma said.
He had earlier warned the government that illegal mining of coal and other minerals could fund the insurgent groups on a comeback bid. He also said there are inputs of such groups trying to reorganise themselves by using the illegal mining activities as their “uninterrupted sources” of money.
