SHILLONG, Feb 5: The Nationalist Congress Party has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and the United Democratic Party — all allies in the National People’s party-led MDA coalition — in demanding an independent probe into allegations of illegal coal mining and transportation in the state.
“The BJP and UDP have demanded this. We do have the National Green Tribunal but we do not know much how they are operating. It would be much better if an independent agency conducts the probe,” NCP state president Saleng Sangma said on Saturday.
Recalling that the state government has maintained that the NGT, which is an independent body, is monitoring coal mining, Sangma said the NGT can go on monitoring accordingly and an independent agency can conduct the probe side by side. “Let another agency come in so that the truth behind the allegations is brought out and all the allegations against the MDA Government are cleared,” he reasoned.
It may be mentioned that the BJP and UDP have demanded a probe by an independent agency, preferably the CBI, into the allegations of illegal coal mining and transportation in the state.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong had earlier came down heavily on those making allegations of rampant illegal coal mining and transportation in the state and asked them to approach the NGT if they had any proof of the illegalities.
