Opposition leader Mukul Sangma slams government on mining issue in Meghalaya

Sangma asked the Meghalaya government to enforce relevant sections of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 to prevent further illegal mining in the state.

ByNNN/Shillong

Updated 14 Jan 2021, 9:53 pm

Meghalaya Opposition leader Muku;l Sangma (PHOTO: Facebook)
Meghalaya Opposition leader Muku;l Sangma (PHOTO: Facebook)

Opposition leader Mukul Sangma has asked the Meghalaya government to enforce relevant sections of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 to prevent further illegal mining and transportation of coal in the state.

"It is imperative to enforce the Sub-Section (1) of Section 21 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957 in relation to Sub-Section (6) of  Section 21 of MMDR Act 1957 to prevent further illegal coal mining and its transportation thereof and punishment of perpetrators of the crime as per law; and (ii) Initiate legal proceeding as per the relevant provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 to protect the interest of the state," Sangma said in a letter shot to the chief secretary, MS Rao on Thursday.

Sangma also informed that he had made a visit to Khliehrangnah, Shangpung, West Jaintia Hills district on October 28, last year to verify the truth from the ground zero, after receiving a copy of the representation submitted to the chief secretary by one whistleblower.

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“Upon arrival at the site, as led by the Deputy Commissioner, Jowai and Divisional Mining Officer, Jowai, coal dumped in a scattered manner in the number of depot(s)/dumping ground were found and the site indicated that recently mined coal, apparently carried by siding trucks or dumper trucks, were dumped in a scattered manner in the number of depot(s)/dumping grounds. The respective truckloads, which were dumped in a scattered manner, were counted jointly by the Deputy Commissioner, Jowai and Divisional Mining Officer, Jowai in presence of the team led by me and a menu scripted copy indicating the number of truckloads duly signed on the spot by both DC, Jowai and DMO, Jowai, was handed over to me. The total quantity counted was 1064 truckloads and each truckload must be in the range of 12 to 16 MTs,” he said.

The former chief minister then stated that this reveals the fact that the actual quantity of coal at the site was less than 20,000 MTs, while the enquiry report of the Divisional Mining Officer (DMO) Jowai, vide letter dated June 2, 2020, indicated is 1,41,000 MT (approximately) as per the figure available in the copy of the replies to RTI enclosed in the representation submitted to you by SN Marak.

Stating that illegal coal mining is still taking place in violation of MMDR Act, 1957 and the complete violation of the NGT ban, Sangma also alleged that 1,41,000 MT of coal have disappeared and must have been illegally lifted and transported resulting in a serious loss of government revenue.

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“That the same instance of illegality in respect to illegal coal mining and transportation of illegally mined coal without any royalty to the government was brought to the notice of the government through a press briefing and also in course of proceedings in the floor of the House during the last Assembly Session in November 2020,” he said.

Slamming the government for its inaction on the matter, the leader of opposition said, “The silence of the government in this regard and refusal to act is against the interest of the state.”

“Further, the findings on the spot in respect of the quantity of illegally mined coal, as assessed and duly authenticated by both the Deputy Commissioner and the Divisional Mining Officer of Jowai which is far less than the actual quantity of coal earlier assessed and officially communicated by the Divisional Mining Officer to the Deputy Commissioner, Jowai proves, beyond any doubt, that the coal earlier dumped at the said location have been illegally transported without payment of royalty, cess etc,” he said while adding that the scale and magnitude of illegality committed with such ease cannot have happened without well-planned abetment of the offences.

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shillongmeghalaya governmentcoalmining in meghalayamukul Sanga

NNN/Shillong

NNN/Shillong

Newmai News Network, Shillong, Meghalaya

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