SHILLONG, Feb 10: The state government is yet to take a decision on the directive of the High Court of Meghalaya to rope in Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) or the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to take over policing of illegal coal mining activities.
“We are still waiting for the registered certified copy of the court order. At the moment, everyone is busy with the preparation for the ensuing Assembly polls in the state,” Chief Secretary Donald P Wahlang told The Shillong Times on Friday.
He said that they are going to discuss the matter once they received the certified copy of the court order.
“We will need to adhere to the directive of the High Court,” the chief secretary added.
The full bench of the High Court, in its order on February 7, severely censured the NPP-led MDA Government for failing to stop illegal mining and transportation of coal in the state, and asserted that it would call in the central armed police forces (CAPF) to monitor and stop such illegal activities.
“…the measures adopted by the state have fallen woefully short…it is necessary to call in the central armed police forces to monitor and stop the illegal activities pertaining to coal mining that continues in the state…” the order said.
The court asked Deputy-Solicitor General of India, N Mozika to take notice on behalf of the Union and to inform the court regarding the formalities for the immediate deployment of sufficient units of either the CISF or the CRPF to completely take over the policing of illegal coal mining activities including the transportation thereof from the state machinery, and that too, at a cost that the state will have to bear for its “abject inefficiency”.
The court also directed the Superintendent of Police of East Jaintia Hills to show cause why punishment for contempt, including detention in jail, should not be suffered by him for the flagrant violation of the court’s orders to check the illegal menace of unscientific coal mining rampant all over the district.
