TURA, Jan 17: Leader of the opposition in the state assembly representing the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), Dr. Mukul Sangma, has demanded for setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged ongoing illegal coal mining taking place in Garo Hills.
“The enquiry should be conducted by the SIT which must be monitored by the Judiciary because freshly mined coal is being dumped in the depots of Garo Hills for export to rest of the country and even Bangladesh,” claimed Dr. Sangma, who is also the former Chief Minister of Meghalaya.
The AITC leader led a delegation of GHADC MDCs belonging to his party along with local leaders to inspect the coal depot at Era A’ning in Jadigittim region of Nangalbibra, South Garo Hills on Monday morning.
The Trinamool MDCs in GHADC had alleged large scale loss of revenue to the state and the council in view of the ongoing illegal mining and export of the mineral from Garo Hills.
“We have seen that the coal dumped at the depot has been freshly mined and we have taken samples that will be sent for chemical analysis. For the last two years we have been asking the state government to take cognizance of these irregularities under Section 21 MMDR Act but nothing has been done,” alleged Dr. Sangma.
He claimed that the geologist representing the district authorities had himself indicated that it was freshly extracted coal which had been dumped at the depot.
“Illegal mining, loading and transportation of coal is taking place. Where are they going? There are only two routes – export to neighboring Bangladesh and the rest of the country. From the chemical analysis we will know if the coal dumped at Gasuapara (Export point to Bangladesh) is the same coal or some other coal since the verification can be conducted from the coal dumped in Assam,” added the AITC leader.
He also accused the MDA government in the state of reluctance to act on complaints against illegal mining.
“From what has been happening in the last two years, we all have reasons to believe the state government is in no mood to stop this illegal activity. Therefore, there has to be an attempt to seek the intervention of the judiciary and this is precisely what we will be doing,” stressed Dr Sangma as he added that investigation of any nature will have to be a probe that ought to be monitored by the Court.
“Unless this is done, these illegal activities will continue to be done with impunity and this is something we need to stop to protect the interests of the state and the nation,” added the former chief minister.
