LO accuses MDA of adopting “modus operandi” to facilitate illegal coal mining:

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 4, 2019

SHILLONG: Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma has accused the Conrad K Sangma-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government of creating a “modus operandi” to facilitate illegal coal mining at the cost of the state’s exchequer and warned that this will lead to rise of mafia-like groups.

At the same time, the former chief minister has also sought the intervention of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and its appointed Committee for verifying the state government’s claim that around 32 lakh tons extracted coal is lying pending for transportation which according to him was misleading.

He was reacting to a recent open letter submitted to chief minister Conrad K Sangma by one Pillarson D Sangma from East Garo Hills District on August 12, where he had alleged the state government of creating new inventory on the quantity of extracted coal (which doesn’t exist) to misinform the Supreme Court.

 Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Mukul told reporters that he was surprised that the chief minister has maintained silence despite the magnitude of this allegation.

“What is this? It will therefore definitely be pertinent for me to take the issue with the NGT and its appointed Committee to verify, if the allegation of Pillarson is correct,” he said.

Stating during the then state government, there was no change in the inventory from 2014, when the NGT had imposed the ban on coal mining till 2018, Mukul asked how can the figures keep on changing now there is huge amount of coal which is up to 32 lakh tons.

“Because of this, illegal coal mining was happening continuously and this means there was a kind of understanding between the people involved in illegal coal mining and the authorities probably will now have to verify and investigated as to why was this misinterpretation before the Supreme Court was given,” he added.

The leader of opposition further alleged that the present state government of transferring the people who were supposed to implement the orders passed by the NGT and said, “There has been frequent change and posting of officers and institutions have been tampered upon to facilitate whole exercise of illegalities.”

He also referred to a video clipping which has gone viral showing trucks carrying illegal coal in the state adding they are moving on the roads with comfort as there is nobody to catch them and thereby depriving revenue to the state.

Pointing out at the delay in payment of the pending bills to contractors and implementation of various developmental programmes because of the clam of constrain of resources, Mukul however said the money that is available to the government without the loot itself is not enough, now with this loot from the money will come for the government to response to the aspirations of the people.

Accusing the government of institutionalizing such modus operandi to facilitate illegalities in the state, the Congress leader said, “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.”

“Now when there is a system created to ensure that before it (revenue) reaches the government’s coffer somebody is there designated with this whole modus operandi to loot then how is the state going to flourish,” he said.

Asked, Mukul said the frequent transfer of officers was to get rid of people who are not willing to comply with this modus operandi to loot the state.

“Therefore, this is the particular government which is going to destroy the future of the state and going to create an unprecedented future for the state where the state will be in a chaotic condition,” he said.

Meanwhile, the leader of opposition warned that if such a modus operandi is being created by the people in power, there be a mafia-like organization which will start operating and who will try to acquire as much power as they can to use it against the authorities and government machineries.

According to him, the brutal attack on the Civil Society Women Organization president Agnes Kharshiing and her aide last year is just a tip of the ice berg.

“Now with the whole institutionalization of this modus operandi you are going to defile many innocent minds and officers and ultimately trap them into a system and make them part of this whole mafia to loot,” he said.