SHILLONG, March 1: Home Minister, Lahkmen Rymbui on Tuesday said the state government is trying its best to stop the illegal mining of coal and its transportation but faced with manpower crunch.
He said the constraint is from the point of view of policing. He said the government has advertised about 900 vacant posts in the police department and for which, the examination is going on. He said another 848 vacant posts will be filled up soon.
“There is a shortage of 1,800 personnel. I am talking about the posts of SI (sub-inspector) and below. The MPSC is in the process of recruiting officers. With this shortage, it is not possible for the police to do everything,” Rymbui said.
Appreciating the efforts put in by the police despite the constraints, he said whenever and wherever any information is received about illegal mining of coal or its transportation, the police react quickly.
“We know we are trying to do the maximum possible. We will keep doing it,” Rymbui added.
On reports that militancy is funded by coal money, the Home Minister said he had no report about the nexus but did not rule it out either.
“Criminals will join hands with fellow criminals wherever they are. That is the nature which we have seen,” he said.
Rymbui also said that he had no knowledge about the movement of armed groups. He warned that the government will firmly deal with any such group. He also warned that anyone found helping such group will not be spared.
Congress awaits
High Court verdict
Reacting to the recent order of the Meghalaya High Court directing the Chief Secretary and the Director-General of Police, to file reports on illegal rat-hole mining of coal in Nengchigen village in West Khasi Hills and the FIR filed by the Nokma of the village, State Congress chief Vincent H Pala said he would wait for the court’s judgment before unveiling his next move.
“The High Court has already taken up this issue. I would like to see how the court pursues with this matter before divulging on the steps to be taken by the Congress to highlight the illegalities,” Pala said on Tuesday.
To a query, he observed that the SIT inquiry is not enough since the state government will have control over it.
“The illegalities are not restricted only to coal. Illegalities are taking place everywhere. So either a CBI inquiry or an independent probe should be instituted,” the MPCC president said.