Shillong, May 24: Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma has alleged that politico- bureaucratic nexus has scuttled any move to take action against illegal coal mining and transportation.
Speaking to reporters in the context of raid my Enforcement Directorate (ED) against illegal coal mining activities in South Garo Hills, Mukul said responsibilities should have been fixed on Deputy Commissioners and SPs as they are directly responsible for any illegal activities in their respective districts.
He questioned the failure of the district administration and the police to take action against illegal coal mining and transportation.
“You have the deputy commissioners, you have the manpower under the command and control of the DCs, you have the SPs, you have the police stations, you have the OCs, you have the police and you have the markets. You are talking about illegal coal mining, if there is an illegal coal mining, then you will have lots of footfalls of outsiders in the markets, you go to Shallang, if you see, lots of outsiders, is it not the responsibility of the police to find out who are they? If there are staying in some makeshift camps, is it not the responsibility of police to find out?” he asked.
According to Mukul, there are hundreds of labourers coming in or being transported in vehicles which are visible as they cross various police check gates. These are all visible evidences, when you see that markets are selling all those equipment needed for rat coal mining, you know coal mining is going on. You go and see the market, the shops,” he added .
Mukul said, “Therefore what is the responsibility of all these people who are under the payroll of the government who are being paid from the public exchequer for the protection of the interest of the people and the state.”
He said the ED will have to further go beyond what is happening.
“See Enforcement Directorate findings itself will have its own legal ramifications but in addition to that, they’ll have to further go beyond what is happening,” Mukul said.
The ED began investigation following an FIR lodged at Shallang.
The ED had stated, “During the search, it was found that managers, sardars and labourers were engaged in illegal coal mining in the area of Jadigittim, South Garo Hills using primitive tools. It was noticed that around 20 mines were being run illegally in Era Aning and Goreng area. Few of the labourers were handed over to local police stations to investigate the matter on the suspicion of their identity/nationality.”
The ED said the investigation revealed that a syndicate having persons from Assam and Meghalaya were facilitating in transportation of illegally mined coal. The syndicate used to charge Rs 1.27 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh per truck from the mine owners in the name of commission/patronage in case. The illegally mined coal was stored at depots at Jogighopa, Assam. Thereafter, it was transported to different industries like cement, brick kilns, iron and steel industries and illegal coke plants.
