Shillong, Sep 21: The deputy chief minister, Prestone Tynsong, on Wednesday dismissed all claims of illegal coal transportation saying all the trucks carrying coal were legal.
Tynsong said the coal-laden trucks — which have been spotted quite often and have been reported in the media — “are legal as they are transporting over 1 lakh metric tonnes of extracted coal, which have been auctioned as per court order”.
“Where is the illegal transportation of coal now that the auction has taken place? You knew it well that the process has been done by Coal India Limited. No less than 1 lakh metric tonnes out of almost 32 lakh metric tonnes of coal have been auctioned,” he told reporters and added that the trucks plying belonged to those with challans.
Tynsong was responding to a query on the recent detection of over 18 illegal trucks carrying coal without challan by an NGO and the subsequent alleged failure of the Mawryngkneng police station to register its FIR.
However, Tynsong said police cannot refuse to register an FIR. “It is also their (the NGO members’) duty to follow it up as police cannot just refuse to register an FIR whether it is according to challan or no challan or no paper,” he said.
On the allegation that a “high level” is facilitating the illegal movement of trucks in the state, he said, “Why not name all the members of that high level? Who is that high level? Find out whether trucks plying on the roads are with papers or without papers.” He added that one should enquire from the Mining and Geology Department about the number of challans issued.
The High Court of Meghalaya in March asked the state government to stop illegal mining of coal and its transport giving four weeks’ time to act. (Read: Court asks govt to stop illegal coal extraction, transportation)
The full bench of the court had unearthed rampant illegal coal mining in East Jaintia Hills’ Khliehriat and its nearby areas and said that it was impossible that such activities could be carried out without the possible connivance of the local administration.
Referring to the Congress’ allegation of rampant illegal collection from trucks, Tynsong said it was useless to respond to baseless allegations.
The auctioning process will soon start for West Khasi Hills and Garo Hills after completion of the process in Jaintia Hills, the deputy chief minister informed.
Also read: Govt stopped Lokayukta probe into illegal coal mining: Mukul
