Conrad rejects Opp charge of govt denial
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 17: Admitting that ‘economic desperation’ often outweighs the fear of the law, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Saturday defended his government’s record on illegal coal mining, framing the persistent violations not as a failure of policing, but as a complex legacy of a 200-year-old livelihood suddenly declared criminal.
Responding to questions on continued reports of illegal coal-related activities and accusations from the opposition, Sangma said the government was absolutely not in denial.
He explained that coal mining in the state had a long history, spanning nearly two centuries, and generations of families had depended on it for their livelihood. He pointed out that when court orders abruptly stopped the traditional method of mining, it immediately affected the primary source of income for many people, making compliance difficult on the ground.
The chief minister said that while the background and social realities needed to be understood, it remained the government’s duty to implement the law. He noted that enforcement, however, came with practical challenges, including limited manpower and the fact that such activities were spread across different corners of the state.
Emphasising that the government was taking firm action, Sangma said more than a thousand cases had been registered against those involved in illegal mining, thousands of people had been arrested and chargesheeted, several mines had been closed, and many offenders had been sent to jail. He added that despite sustained enforcement, it was unrealistic to expect illegal activities to stop overnight simply because of court orders, given the economic desperation of those involved.
Sangma clarified that he was not justifying or promoting illegal mining, but explaining the reality that people who had depended on coal for decades were willing to risk arrest or danger to feed their families. He said this made the situation extremely challenging and required a balanced approach rather than simplistic expectations.
The chief minister said the government had continuously acted by arresting offenders, closing mines, and filing cases whenever illegal activity was detected, while acknowledging that such actions often led to the problem resurfacing in other locations. He stressed that despite these difficulties, the government remained firm and would continue to act wherever violations were found.
Looking ahead, an optimistic Conrad said he believed the worst phase might be behind the state.
He pointed out that scientific mining had now been introduced, coal blocks were being officially allotted by the government, and the Supreme Court had lifted the ban, creating a legal framework for regulated mining. He said the state was currently in a transition phase and expressed hope that, over time, illegal activities would gradually decline and be replaced by a scientific and lawful mining system.
Describing the situation as a process that required time, Sangma said challenges would persist during the transition, but maintained that the state was moving steadily in the right direction.
