TURA/ SHILLONG, Feb 24: South Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, FM Dopth on Thursday visited Nengchigen village under Shallang police station in West Khasi Hills to look into complaints of illegal coal mining.
This followed an order from Chief Secretary, RV Suchiang for a spot inquiry.
A division bench of the High Court of Meghalaya had taken suo motu cognisance of a report in The Shillong Times on illegal coal mining and directed the Chief Secretary as well as the Director-General of Police (DGP) to file an independent report within a week.
Earlier, the Nengchigen villagers had accused the police of not listening to their complaints of illegal rat-hole coal mining being carried out in their village by groups of individuals, led by one Alnet G Marak.
In an FIR lodged with the police, the villagers named seven persons – Alnet Marak, Clington Marak, Pandit Momin, Toban Marak, Nazim Ali, Lipson Momin and Pangseng Sangma and alleged that they were operating more than 10 such rat-hole mines. They also alleged they were being threatened on a daily basis since they filed the FIR.
The court had directed the Chief Secretary and the DGP to seek the help of this correspondent who filed the story. So on Wednesday, the South Garo Hills DC contacted this scribe seeking the number of the Nokma of the village and it was accordingly provided to him.
The DC’s findings were not shared and he could not be contacted for comment.
According to sources, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Shallang will inspect the site. A report based on the findings by the police and the administration is expected to be submitted to the court within a week.
Suchiang told reporters in Shillong that she will file an affidavit before the court as directed. She said as the area is more accessible from South Garo Hills, she had asked the deputy commissioner to visit the site.
On the frequent allegations of illegal mining of coal and its transportation, Suchiang disclosed that there was another court order and she had filed a report, as sought, on February 7.
The report indicates that the steps, which the government has taken, were about illegal mining of coal and minor minerals as well as the quarrying of boulders, limestone etc.
“That report will be filed again,” the Chief Secretary added.
The court has already said the matter needs to be looked into without any political interference or else, it may be constrained to appoint a fact-finding committee or even constitute a special investigation team or take the assistance of some agency so that the matter is thoroughly investigated in accordance with law and the persons involved are brought to book.