Shillong: The issue of illegal coal mining in Meghalaya despite a ban by the National Green Tribunal was raised in the Assembly on Thursday with legislators asking how a "bunch of crooks" could outsmart the government.
The Opposition parties also demanded that the government take on an organised racket that is "hell-bent" only to loot public money and arrest kingpins behind this organised effort.
Raising a call attention motion on "rampant illegal coal mining in South West Khasi Hills district", Congress MLA from Umroi, George B. Lyngdoh raised a slew of issues pertaining to illegal coal mining, forcing minors to be coal labourers, environmental pollution, overloading of trucks and circulation of fake challans for transporting extracted coal.
Lyngdoh said the quantity of extracted coal was shown as more than the actual amount, thereby leaving room for corruption. He alleged that welfare activities for the uplift of the poor in the coal mining areas of the state were nonexistent.
"Coal mining is such a lucrative activity that lust for wealth leads to disrespect for fellow human beings, destruction of childhood besides brutal and reckless violation of the beautiful environment," Lyngdoh said.
Referring to circulation of fake challans, the MLA said: "I am of the opinion that there is an organised racket that is hell-bent only to loot public money. How come a bunch of crooks keeps on outsmarting the entire government! Have the police ever nabbed the kingpins behind this organised effort to loot the state government's treasury?"
He wanted to know what steps the government has taken against hundreds of seized trucks used to ferry coal illegally.
Lyngdoh said: "Efforts being put in by the government to get the ban lifted is a sheer waste of time and public money because simultaneously coal is being mined everywhere and lawlessness is allowed to prevail."
Urging the government to order a thorough investigation into fake challans, Lyngdoh said: "Who are behind this entire nexus and what to do with the offenders? People of the state expect us to perform and uphold the Constitution to ensure that the interest of citizens is protected."
In his reply, chief minister Conrad K. Sangma denied that illegal coal mining is taking place in South West Khasi Hills district. He, however, said that an extra assistant commissioner in charge of Ranikor administrative unit has been asked to conduct a detailed inquiry.
Conrad also assured that the government would follow up on FIRs filed in connection with fake challans and take action accordingly. "We are concerned as it is a loss of revenue for our state," the chief minister said.
