DC legalizing illegal mined coal in forms of auctioning of unclaimed coal
- Divisional Mining Officer admitted illegal coal mining flourishing in Shangpung Khliehrangnah.
- No fresh assessment of Coal for WJH in the new inventory approved by the Hon’ble Supreme Court Order dated 3rd July 2019.
- Meghalaya Govt, political parties, coal mafia nexus to abet illegal mining.
- Complaint file by Damehi Lamare, takes a U-turn as Cong proves MDA Govt wrong on rampant illegal mining and transportation.
- Ownerless valuable mineral exists only in Meghalaya.
- Govt. urges to take necessary action as per law to stop these illegalities in the interest of the state.
- MDA caught red handed further investigation is needed.
Whistle blower Sengbreezbirth N Marak said Criminal conspiracy on to facilitate illegal mining of coal and its illegal transportation in the State of Meghalaya.
In a letter to the Chief Secretary, Government of Meghalaya, Marak informed that a complaint was lodged by Damehi Lamare, who informed the Deputy Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills on the alleged behest of coal mafia on illegal stock of coal in Khliehrangnah.
But this complaint has now taken a U-turn as the Congress Party under the leadership of Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma smell a rat in the complaint and decided to dig up the truth as to establish a nexus between the powerful people and coal mafia in the state.
Truth prevailed this time as the Congress Party has proven MDA Govt. wrong who made tall claim that there is no such illegal mining activities in the State.
Interestingly, Damehi Lamare who hailed from Shangpung is a brother in law of Bison Shylla the brother of Meghalaya Revenue Minister Kyrmen Shylla representing Khliehriat Constituency. This could be the link to connect the nexus between the people at the helm of affairs and the coal mafia.
As per information obtained through Right to Information Act from the PIO, Directorate of Mineral Resources, Meghalaya, Jowai, vide No. DMO- J/E/46 (Vol- II)/2019/584 regarding unclaimed stock of coal, Marak informed that a complaint was lodged before the Deputy Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills by Damehi Lamare alleging that there is an illegal stock of coal at Khliehrangnah area, Shangpung West Jaintia Hills District.
In this matter enquiry was ordered by the Deputy Commissioner, Jowai and report submitted by the Divisional Mining Officer and subsequently FIR was lodged on 23-06-2020 by the Divisional Mining Officer as per the order of the Deputy Commissioner, Jowai.
The assessed coal of the unclaimed coal was shown as 1,41,000 MT (approximately) vide letter No. DMO-J/R/23/2019/57.
“As per the inputs collect from the sites of the alleged unclaimed/illegal stock of coal indicated by the few-coordinates, the quantity of coal is hardly 15% to 20% of the indicated quantity in the official report of the Divisional Mining Officer submitted to Deputy Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills.
The letter read as observed during past few months, there have been similar auction of such alleged unclaimed coal by Deputy Commissioners of different districts where the actual quantity of the unclaimed coal at the site is far less than the quantity being shown in the official correspondence and then in the public auction notice.”
It further said, “That this strategy is being adopted by many DCs as can be observed in respect of all such public auctions of so called unclaimed coal to facilitate transportation of coal being illegally mined under the cover of the challans of the auction coal.
“In the process, along with the transportation of the auctioned coal and under the banner of auctioned coal, illegally mined coal are further being transported at the cost of the state,” the complaint read.
Marak informed that as per the RTI reply of PIO Directorate Mineral Resources, Meghalaya, Jowai said that as per record till date no auction coal was done in West Jaintia Hills and FIR has been lodge at Raliang Police outpost on 23rd June 2020 on the illegal dumping of coal at Khliehrangnah, Shangpung, West Jaintia Hills.
Enquiry report of DMO Jowai which submitted to Deputy Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills on 2nd June 2020.
“In inviting a reference to your letter NO. GEN.177/COMPLAINT/2017/92 Dt 19.05.2020 on the subject mentioned above, I have the honour to inform you that I have visited Khliehrangnah area, Shangpung on 1st June 2020 and found that huge quantity of coal were dumped at Khliehrangnah Area. It may be mentioned here that as per Hon’ble Supreme Court order Dt 3rd July 2019 West Jaintia Hills District did not included in the 32 Lakh MT of Assessed Coal. Hence the said dumping Coal may be treated as fully illegal. Further on measurement by volume metric method the coal dumped in that area is about 1,41,000 MT (Approximately). The coordinates around the area were coal were dumped are N 25° 28′ 3.1”, E 92°22’44.36”, N 25° ’29’ 8.11”, E 92° 22′ 10.03”, N 25° 26’38.5”, E 92°22’39.02” and N 25°28’ 2.68”, E 92° 18′ 10.47”.
Later the DMO, Jowai lodged an FIR in Raliang Police Outpost that a complaint was filed to the Deputy Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills District by Damehi Lamare where it was alleged that there are extracted coal dumping around the Khliehrangnah area, the letter informed.
According to the FIR it is stated that as per the fresh coal Inventory approved by the Supreme Court on the 3rd July 2019 in West Jaintia Hills District there is no fresh assessment on coal submitted by the District administration to the State Govt for onwards submission to the Hon’ble Supreme Court.
The DMO concluded in his FIR that the coal was extracted and stocked illegally in violation of the order of the Hon’ble Supreme Court without being included in the Coal Inventories.
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