Shillong, Nov 9: The issue of alleged illegalities in coal mining and transportation during the Question Hour generated much heat between the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and Congress’ Zenith Sangma on the second day of the Autumn session of the Assembly.
Taking up the matter during the Question Hour, the Congress MLA from Rangsakona wanted to know if the 32 lakh metric tons of mined coal that has been declared by the State government before the Supreme Court was practically present.
In his reply, the Chief Minister informed the House that the stock was declared by the previous government in the year 2014-2015 when the Congress legislator was himself a Minister.
“This 32 lakh metric tons is not created by us, it was in 2015 during their time, so why are you blaming us. You created the stock, if you had any doubt why didn’t you raise it that time,†the Chief Minister replied angrily.
The Chief Minister said that officers of the various government departments submitted (amount of coal) to the NGT then to the Supreme Court and the apex court accepted it. He said can this be done without the coal actually being there.
He also said that questioning the inventory of coal by the Congress legislator was questioning the authority of the Supreme Court which had approved the auctioning of 32 lakh metric tons of coal.
Meanwhile the Chief Minister also informed that the state has been facing incidents of illegal coal mining and transportation for a long time.
Sangma pointed out that in 2014 – 203 cases were registered 2015 – 541, 2016 – 117, 2017 – 274 and from 2018 till date 400 cases were registered.
The Chief Minister also told the House that after the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government took over section 21 (4) of the in The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957 was implemented against those who indulged in illegal transportation and mining of coal.
“This particular act ensured that if anybody is caught such persons will be jailed for five years and will be fined Rs. five lakh,†Sangma said.
According to him, earlier when sections of the Cr.P.C .were invoked earlier it was not a deterrent.
The Chief Minister also said that the government has also invoked provisions of section 21 (5) of the MMDR Act to recover money from persons who illegally indulge in coal transportation and mining.
Section 21(5) of the MMDR Act states – whenever any person raises, without any lawful authority, any mineral from any land, the State Government may recover from such person the mineral so raised, or, where such mineral has already been disposed of, the price thereof, and may also recover from such person, rent, royalty or tax, as the case may be, for the period during which the land was occupied by such person without any lawful authority.
Sangma also said that the government is now using high security challans, fugitive ink, hologram, QR Code and also will set up smart and integrated check gates in different locations of the state to ensure all aspects are double check.
