By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 13: Under intense pressure from the courts to come clean on the disappearance of 4,000 MT of illegally mined coal, the state officials appear to be caught on the wrong foot. And there is no way to hide.
After a minister tried to explain the missing coal as possibly washed away by rain, it evoked derisive public reaction.
With the Supreme Court stepping in, the situation has taken a serious turn.
The state government desperately needs a face saving explanation. However, all that the government has so far come up with is that it is awaiting an official explanation from the concerned deputy commissioners of Ri-Bhoi and West Khasi Hills.
The problem is that the quantum of illegally mined coal was estimated by Justice (retired) BP Katakey who has been appointed by the High Court of Meghalaya to put a check on unscientific coal mining.
On Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said following the submission of the reports by the deputy commissioners, the state government will prepare and file its affidavit before the high court.
He dismissed reports of any fresh illegal mining and transportation of coal, but assured that the law of the land will prevail.
He reiterated that instructions have been given to the police and the district administrations since 2014 to ensure that no illegalities take place.
The Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) had recorded 1,839.03 MT of coal at a depot in Diengngan village in Ri-Bhoi district. However, during a recent inspection, only 2.5 MT of coal was found along with residue and traces of coal.
Similarly, only about 8 MT of coal, along with residue and traces of coal, were found at the Rajaju village depot in West Khasi Hills against 2,121.62 MT of coal recorded by the MBDA earlier.
It may be recalled that the deputy commissioners concerned have assured Justice Katakey that their reports into the disappearance of 4,000 metric tonnes of illegal coal would be submitted within 30 days.
“I have asked them to conduct an inquiry, and it has been assured that a report would be submitted within a month from now,” Justice Katakey said after holding a meeting with the DCs on Monday.
Earlier, the High Court of Meghalaya directed the state government to take urgent steps and hold persons or officials accountable after the illegally-mined coal vanished from two coal depots.
