SHILLONG, Aug 20: A day after a mishap killed a coal miner in West Khasi Hill district’s Shallang, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mukul Sangma trained his guns on the MDA, accusing it of encouraging illegal mining.
He also asked the people of the state to take cognisance of the “evil intent” of the MDA coalition and utilise their (voting) power to bring in change.
“Why is this illegal mining taking place in the first instance? It is because the government has tried to encourage illegal mining with impunity for reasons best known to them,” Sangma told reporters on Saturday.
The MDA government has been repeatedly denying any illegal coal mining and transportation in the state. The Centre, too, has given it a clean chit, but the situation on the ground indicates otherwise.
At least one person was killed when an alleged illegal coal mine collapsed early Friday morning in Urak (Riangdim), a remote hamlet close to Goreng under the Shallang police station.
Stating that the government has not taken any steps despite the opposition highlighting the issue of illegal coal mining often, Sangma said: “Have I not pointed fingers at the government again and again? What has happened to those instances brought to the notice of the government?”
He said the government’s inaction emboldened the perpetrators of the illegal activity and no one fears the law anymore.
Sangma said the Shallang incident implies the government has adopted the modus operandi of facilitating illegal mining against the interest of the people in Meghalaya.
“Today the state is being defamed because of these illegalities and we are ashamed of it. It is high time the people took cognisance of the evil intent and the insensitivity of the government and utilised their power of changing the government,” he added.
MoS assures action against offenders
In the wake of a miner losing his life and one more sustaining grievous injuries in in Urak village under Shallang, West Khasi Hills, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Kumar Mishra has asserted that action will be taken against the offenders, even as he stated that he has spoken about the illegal coal mining activities with the state government.
“Whatever illegal (activities) is happening I have spoken about it also. Wherever such instances are found, action will be taken against those involved,” said Mishra, while reacting to the tragedy.
He added that police are trying to stop such illegalities and assured that none will be spared.
The latest coal mine incident allegedly took place on Friday morning when two persons identified as Lependro Sangma (34) and Hendit Momin (33), both residents of Uguri (Goraimari) village under Kharkutta Police Station in North Garo Hills, had gone to coal mine on being instructed by mine owner, Hubath R Sangma of Songsak Gurakalam village in Shallang.
According to police, the mine collapsed when the duo entered and Lependro lost his life while Hendit’s leg was grievously injured.
After reviewing the implementation of central scheme in a meeting with the state government at the Secretariat, the Union MoS said that benefits of all schemes and projects of the central government should be availed by the state. When asked if he was satisfied with the implementation of central schemes, Mishra said that they are ongoing projects with new interventions every day, which is why there is no reason to be satisfied.
“…every day the need arises and you cannot sit being satisfied as new challenges come up daily. We will continue and people must avail the benefit,” he added.
On peace talks with the proscribed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC), the Union MoS for Home said that earlier there were many militant outfits in the region, but over the years, most challenges have been resolved, while asserting that the remaining ones will be also addressed.