Shillong, Jan 14: Leader of Opposition in the Meghalaya Assembly and former chief minister, Dr Mukul Sangma has written to the Chief Justice, Supreme Court of India about “continuous illegal coal mining in the State and illegal transportation of illegally mined coal thereofâ€.
In his letter dated January 13, 2021 sent through the Chief Secretary, Meghalaya, M.S. Rao and copies of which were also forwarded to Chief Justice of High court of Meghalaya,
Chairman, National Green Tribunal, and Chairman of Meghalaya Lokayukta, the veteran Congress leader said that he had made a visit to Khliehrangnah, Shangpung, West Jaintia Hills, on the October 28, 2020 to verify the truth from the ground zero.
Upon arrival at the site, as led by the Deputy Commissioner, Jowai and Divisional Mining Officer, Jowai, coal dumped in a scattered manner in number of depot(s)/dumping ground were found and the site indicated that recently mined coal, apparently carried by siding trucks or dumper trucks, were dumped in a scattered manner in number of depot(s)/dumping grounds. The respective truck loads, which were dumped in a scattered manner, were counted jointly by the Deputy Commissioner, Jowai and Divisional Mining Officer, Jowai in presence of the team led by me and a manuscripted copy indicating the number of truck loads duly signed on the spot by both DC, Jowai and DMO, jowai, was handed over to me. The total quantity counted was 1064 truck loads and each truck loads must be in the range of 12 to 16 MTs,†the letter said.
“This reveals the fact that the actual quantity of coal at the site was less than 20,000 MTs, while the enquiry report of the DMO, Jowai, vide letter No. DMO-J/R/23/2019/57, Dated :Jowai, the 2nd June 2020, indicated is 1,41,000 MT (Approximately) as per the figure available in the copy of the replies to RTI enclosed in the representation submitted to you by Shri S.N.Marak,†Sangma claimed in the letter.
He said that illegal coal mining is still taking place in violation of MMDR Act 1957 and the “complete violation of the ban by the NGT on illegal coal miningâ€.
“Huge quantity of illegally mined coal which was submitted in the enquiry report of the Divisional Mining Officer, Jowai, indicating 1,41,000 MT (approximately) of coal vide Letter No. DMO-J/R/23/2019/57, Dated :Jowai, the 2nd June 2020, have disappeared and must have been illegally lifted and transported resulting in serious loss of Government revenue. That the same instance of illegality in respect to illegal coal mining and transportation of illegally mined coal without any royalty to the Government was brought to the notice of the Government through Press briefing and also in course of proceedings in the floor of the House during the last Assembly Session in November 2020,†Sangma said.
“The silence of the Government in this regard and refusal to act is against the interest of the state. Further, the findings on the spot in respect of quantity of illegally mined coal, as assessed and duly authenticated by both the Deputy Commissioner and Divisional Mining Officer of Jowai which is far less than the actual quantity of coal earlier assessed and officially communicated by the Divisional Mining Officer to the Deputy Commissioner, Jowai proves, beyond any doubt, that the coal earlier dumped at the said location have been illegally transported without payment of royalty, cess, etc.,†the former Chief Minister wrote.
It is to be noted that the scale and magnitude of illegality committed with such an ease cannot have happened without well planned abetment of the offences. In view of the above, it is imperative, therefore, to: (i) enforce the Sub-Section (1) of the Section 21 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act 1957 in relation to Sub-Section (6) of Section 21 of MMDR Act 1957 to prevent further illegal coal mining and its transportation thereof and punishment of perpetrators of the crime as per law ; and (ii) Initiate legal proceeding as per the relevant provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988 to protect the interest of the state,†Sangma wrote.
