Meghalaya CM says allegation of illegal coal transportation ‘total baseless’

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 12, 2020

Categorically denying any illegal transportation of coal in the state, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday said that there is need to change the mindset that all coal laden trucks on the highways are illegal.

“These allegations are completely baseless. I feel very strongly sometimes any movement that takes place on the highway or when people see a coal truck, they think it is always illegal. This kind of a mindset needs to change,” Sangma told reporters.

Stating that the government has been very clear that such illegal activities will not be allowed in the state, he said any kind of movement that does take place should be with papers and proper documentation.  

The chief minister also informed that strong measures have also been taken to prevent or stop such illegal activities.

“We have been having meetings again and again with the police department with different deputy commissioners, transport, mining and other departments to ensure that this kind of movement is not allowed and in the future as well, we will also ensure that strict measures are going to be taken.”

Sangma said the government is also in the process of setting up the integrated check gates, which will have different technologies like, CCTV cameras, as mandated by the Supreme Court and the NGT for any kind of future movement.

“So these kinds of measures and technologies are being implemented. So we are very serious about this issue and we want to ensure that no such activity takes place. I can assure you we have been working,” he added.

On the demand for a CBI inquiry, the chief minister said the government has to act in a responsible and practical manner as CBI is not an agency that can be called and used for anything that one would want.

“There has to be a proper and systematic way that this has to be approached. Therefore, if there are any issues, definitely we are going to look into it but I don’t think there are allegations that are with any kind of base right now,” he stated while adding for the BJP and other parties to make such allegations based on statements like these, is really an irresponsible act.

Asked on reports alleging the involvement of the state power minister in the coal racket, the chief minister however said that allegations are very easy to make.  

“I have been very clear that we have been very strict about this. I have taken personal interest in this and ensure that police have been told time and again to ensure that no (illegal) activity takes place. But as I said it is wrong sometimes for media houses or individuals to see a movement and say yes this coal truck must be illegal. There has to be some kind of base to do this,” he stated.

The chief minister also admitted that a lot of movement is taking place and said, “But we are ensuring any movement that takes place should be with proper valid documents.”