No question of Govt promoting illegal coal mining in Meghalaya: Marak

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 13, 2025

Cabinet Minister Marcuise N Marak on Thursday said there is no question of the state government promoting illegal coal mining and other illegalities in the state. 

“Why would state work in collaboration with those illegal things. Do you think that the state government can promote those illegal things? Our MDA government is very transparent and you must have seen Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s initiatives, the way he is leading our state is to be seen by yourselves only. Therefore, there is no such things happening. Anybody who sees it if it is a fact then you bring it to the knowledge of the government as we are there to sort it out and we are there to stop (all illegalities),” Marak told reporters while reacting to allegations made by opposition parties referring to the recent interim report submitted by Justice (Retired) BP Katakey.

Denying that there is illegal coal mining, the minister said, “There is no such thing happening in the group. If there is, there are systems to catch hold of those things and for that matter I think some of the businessmen given their reply and this has gone to the district administration there. 

I think there is no such illegal mining in South Garo Hills.” 

Asked, Marak said, “Well, I don’t know about that. So far those actively involved in mining are all settled in Williamnagar town and some other towns, we can see them and they are in the town areas all the time doing nothing and they are also waiting for the licenses to be granted for the scientific mining.”

“There might be some misconception or wrong information maybe but I don’t know what exactly happen but in my opinion there is no such thing happening,” he added.