SHILLONG, June 26: The High Court of Meghalaya on Monday ordered the state government to initiate “appropriate steps” in accordance with law against one of the kingpins of illegal mining and transportation of coal who has been “identified”.
Referring to an affidavit filed by coal exporter Champer M. Sangma, the petitioner in the instant case, the court said, “The State will do well to take note of such fact and take appropriate steps in accordance with law.”
During the hearing on the PIL, the petitioner (Sangma) submitted that illegal mining and the illegal transportation of illegally-mined coal continues merrily in Meghalaya and “even the death of two coal workers from Assam in the South Garo Hills district has gone unnoticed and has not been reported in the newspapers in the State”.
The counsel for the petitioner submitted that he has confirmation in such regard from the Superintendent of Police of one of the neighbouring districts of Assam.
The counsel also submitted that the police official has, since, become wiser and has not answered any further phone calls.
The petitioner claimed to have video footage of the illegal mining activities and the transportation of the illegally-mined coal. The court asked the petitioner to ensure that such video footage can be viewed in court when the matter appears next on July 4.
“A senior government official should be present to immediately respond to whatever is revealed from the relevant video footage,” the bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh said.
