SHILLONG, May 11: The state government’s assertion that it has taken steps to stop all activities related to illegal mining and transportation of coal was busted on Wednesday when a police team detected around eight or nine tonnes of coal during a surprise checking on illegal coal extraction at Nengchigen and Goreng-A villages in West Khasi Hills district.
The daily crime update uploaded by the state police on its website said police have lodged a suo motu complaint that during a surprise checking on illegal coal extraction at Nengchigen and Goreng-A villages, approximately 8/9 tonnes of coal along with two water pumps, water pipes and one shovel were detected from an abandoned coal quarry at Nengchigen village. Police have seized the coal and equipment.
It may be recalled that the state government had submitted an affidavit before the High Court of Meghalaya on April 19 affirming that illegal coal-mining activities across the state have been brought to a halt.
It may also be noted that the High Court had taken suo motu cognizance of an investigative report published by The Shillong Times on February 23 about rampant illegal rat-hole mining of coal at Nengchigen village in West Khasi Hills, and had directed the Director-General of Police and the Chief Secretary to file independent reports after visiting the site.
Subsequently, the Court had reprimanded the state government for doing precious little to end illegal mining and transportation of coal.
The Court had also observed that it is impossible that the illegal mining activities and the deposit of freshly-mined coal would be conducted with such impunity without the possible connivance of the local administration or even worse.
