Shillong, June 22: Meghalaya Health Minister, AL Hek’s letter to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma for action against illegal coke factories operating in the Jaintia Hills region is being seen with a hinge of political inclination at play.

The reason is apparent because the Hynniewtrep Integration Territorial Organization (HITO) approached the Health Minister instead of directly approaching the Chief Minister’s office.

Secondly, Hek hold the portfolios for the departments of Arts & Culture, Health & Family Welfare, Home (Passport), and Home (Prisons). Given that he is not holding any department that is concerned with the subject of Coal and coke, the suspicion of using the issue to score political brownie points are rife.

Also, the alleged involvement of NPP working president, Nidamon Chullet in the running one of the illegal coke factories is another big reason for the political turn on the issue.

HITO president Donbok Dkhar has alleged that one of the illegal coke factories belong to the NPP working president, Nidamon Chullet and former MLA Justice Dkhar and former MDC Thomas Nongtdu are also among the owners of the illegal coke factories.
Dkhar said his findings are based on RTI filings.

According to Hek, there are 37 coke factories in Jaintia Hills of which only five have obtained proper licenses for operation while the rest are operating without valid licenses.
Meanwhile, HITO has warned that if the state government fails to comply with the demand, it will resort to a non-cooperation movement.