CM brushes aside Congress’ charge of facilitating illegal mining of coal

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 6, 2019

SHILLONG: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has brushed aside accusations made by the opposition Congress that the state government is involved in facilitating illegal mining and transportation of coal besides manipulation of the centrally sponsored Saubhagya scheme. 

“The Congress in the opposition has been making these allegations time and again but there is no truth to it. Therefore, these allegations are baseless,” Sangma told reporters here on Friday. 

Assuring that there is nothing illegal in as far as transportation of coal is concerned, the chief minister claimed that the government has been very strict on this issue and said, “We are in fact trying to reform things. Things which are not being corrected in the past are being corrected now.” 

Having said this, Sangma went on to announce that the state government for the first time has finally changed the challan and challan with QR Code will be introduced in few months time.

“These measures are being done to tighten up the system to prevent leakages if any and to ensure nobody escape the provisions that are put in,” he said while informing that extensive works are also going on to ensure integrated check gates come up at least in the main exit points of the state. 

Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma had accused the Conrad K Sangma-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government of coming up with a “modus operandi” to facilitate illegal coal mining at the cost of the state’s exchequer. 

“The kind of modus operandi that is happening today under the direct command of the chief minister and his people who are partners in crime is going to create a dangerous situation for the state in the years to come but we will not allow it to happen,” Mukul had said.

Reacting to this, the chief minister said the opposition has the right to make allegations but from the government side, we are sure and quite firm that such kind of activities does not take place adding instructions have been given to different departments to be strict on this regard. 

Asked if the government would consider instituting an inquiry into the alleged manipulation in the tendering process for the implementation of the Saubhagya scheme, Sangma said allegations will keep coming but the government cannot base an inquiry on the basis of allegations as concrete evidences is needed.