SHILLONG, April 16: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday rued the indifference of the state government to the orders of the judiciary on the issue of illegal coal mining and transportation in Meghalaya.
“The government has shown how it is hand in gloves with coal smugglers and it does not even bother to respond anymore (to the court’s directives), both in words and action,” state TMC vice-president, George B. Lyngdoh said.
Referring to the directive of the High Court of Meghalaya to bring in central forces to check the illegal trade, he said the government has no qualms about ignoring the judiciary and shrugging off its responsibilities.
“It is not just the failure (in checking the illegal activities) but connivance between the state government and the ones smuggling coal,” he added.
Lyngdoh said time will tell if the central forces can make any difference unless and until they are allowed to function according to the high court’s directive.
“The high court is trying to save the resources and revenue of the state. Perhaps we should give the central forces a chance and hopefully, the new security arrangement will work,” he said, agreeing with the judiciary.
Two days after the high court came down heavily on the police for failing to curb the menace, Director-General of Police Lajja Ram Bishnoi claimed his force managed to keep the illegal mining and transportation of coal under check despite manpower shortage.
The high court had earlier directed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to ensure the deployment of 10 companies of “appropriate” central armed police force strictly for the purpose of keeping vigil on the roads and arresting the illegal transportation of illegally-mined coal in the state.
The direction was sent to the MHA through the Union Home Secretary.
The court said there is no doubt illegal mining and illegal transportation of coal have continued in the state. If the rule of the law is to be asserted, it cannot be done with the present machinery available in the state, it observed.
