By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 16: Leader of Opposition Mukul M. Sangma has cautioned that coal-related illegalities would continue in the state as long as the NPP-led MDA government is allowed to continue in power.
The MDA government has come under the scanner following the death of 33 labourers in an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills on February 5.
Recalling that NGOs, political parties, and even the opposition had raised instances of illegal coal mining in the past, Sangma said that the state government seems to be on a predetermined strategy to allow illegal activities to continue, and in the process, perpetrators become more emboldened.
“There is evidence beyond doubt that illegalities in respect of illegal coal mining have only grown in scale over the years,” he said, adding that the recent deadly mishap was the fallout of illegalities allowed to go on by authorities.
Accusing the government of having a well-scripted modus operandi to allow illegal coal mining in the state, he said that the deep-rooted complicity cannot be ruled out. “These instances leave behind a blot on the integrity of the people of the state, and it is unacceptable,” he said.
Pointing out that a PIL on illegal coal mining has been pending in the High Court of Meghalaya since 2022, he said that the government is deliberately ensuring that all new instances of illegal coal mining are clubbed in that PIL.
“These new instances must be segregated and tried in the Court,” he said, adding that the one-man Committee of Justice (retd) B.P. Katakey has submitted 35 reports, which are self-explanatory and reflect on the quantum of instances of illegalities.
Raising doubts about whether the Judicial Inquiry Commission, which has two former state officers, will maintain transparency, he said that the Union government must shoulder responsibility for the inquiry.
Sangma said that the state and central governments are equally responsible for holding an inquiry, as coal is under the Union government, and any inquiry into the incident has to be appointed by the Centre, as the illegalities go beyond the borders of Meghalaya.
