SHILLONG, Feb 21: The president of the Voice of the People Party (VPP), Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit said the NPP-led MDA government will continue asserting that there is no illegal coal mining in the state until the people accept it as the truth.
In a statement issued here on Monday, he said the state government adopted Adolf Hitler’s policy that “if you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed”.
“It implies that no matter what if any immoral and illegal action is repeated continuously, people will eventually accept it as normal. This is exactly what this present government is doing,” Basaiawmoit said.
He said the people of the state have come to know of the deaths of many workers in coal mines across the state.
“However, the state government continues to deny any kind of illegal extraction of coal. It also claims that there is no illegal transportation of coal in the state, whereas people have been witnessing coal-laden trucks plying on the roads everywhere, day and night since the NGT (National Green Tribunal) ban came into effect,” Basaiawmoit said.
According to him, some people including those at the helm of affairs have become millionaires from this illegal activity.
He said the leaders of the present government are fully aware that this will become a very prominent issue during election time.
“They are now trying to find ways and means to undo it by way of legalising the transportation of coal, extracted illegally. That is why the state government is now coming up with a notification to allow the transportation of coal, from different states and even outside the country to Bangladesh via Meghalaya. This is nothing but to conceal illegal coal mining in the state which has been there since the ban on rat-hole mining in the state,” he said.
Basaiawmoit also said that as a result of this continuing illegal transportation of coal in the state, roads and bridges are in a bad shape and pose a serious risk to commuters and travellers.
He further observed that accidents and collisions of these overloaded coal trucks result in traffic jams on state roads and national highways every now and then.
“Ultimately, the citizens of the state have to bear the brunt of these corrupt practices indulged by those who are in power. This present dispensation perhaps feels that people in the state are fools and that they can be easily hoodwinked. However, this is a reminder to all those who think they can commit any crime, and nothing can happen will one day have to face the law, and stand trial before the justice system,” the former MLA added.
Cong wants independent probe
In the wake of reports of illegalities, Congress said there should be an independent inquiry by a central team as inquiry is important for the truth to prevail.
Congress leader, PN Syiem made it clear that the government should institute the probe to douse the growing concern over illegal mining and transportation of coal.
Different partners of the MDA government have time and again asked the government to take action against illegal coal mining and transportation once and all.
BJP state president, Ernest Mawrie has also claimed that the Centre has requested the NGT to take cognisance of the allegations of illegal mining of coal and its transportation in Meghalaya and act strongly against the activities.
Earlier, civil society groups, social activists, All India Trinamool Congress and some constituents of the state’s coalition government had demanded an independent probe, preferably by the CBI, into the illegal activities.