Shillong: Mulling a CBI probe into the issue of illegal coal mining and transportation in Meghalaya, the High Court on Tuesday directed the State government to show cause why it should still have any confidence in the police or the administrative machinery
Hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed on the issue of rampant illegal mining in the State, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh said: “since repeated orders have yielded little result and the illegal trade in coal has its tentacles in other neighbouring states, particularly Assam, it may be in public interest to require the CBI to inquire into the matter.”
Champer M. Sangma, the petitioner produced video evidence of the illegal coal mining in West Khasi Hills, South West Khasi Hills, East Jaintia Hills and South Garo Hills and satellite pictures to corroborate his claim.
However, the Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills appearing before the court claimed that the video was old and showed previously seized coal.
But the court rejected this claim of the Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills saying: “prima facie, the video footage reveals freshly-mined coal… The previously seized coal, which would have been coal that was mined prior to 2016 or 2017, would have plants, weeds and grass growing around them in the dumps.”
Coal mining has been banned since 2014 by the National Green Tribunal due to environmental concerns and health hazards. However, the Supreme Court allowed the disposal of already mined coal which was mined prior to the order.
Whenever the issue of illegal coal mining or transportation was pointed out by the general public or activists, the NPP-led government has claimed these to be previously mined coal.
There are credible reports carried in local newspapers that there are fixed rates at various levels for those in authority to look the other way as this menace (illegal coal mining) ravishes the state and deprives it of the rightful revenue,” the court maintained.
On such coal being used by illegal coke oven plants, the bench was not satisfied by the action taken by the state government against illegal coke oven plants, saying “the ground reality appears to be otherwise.”
Meanwhile, the petitioner Sangma has said there is a threat to his life from the kingpin of such illegal coal miners.
“The state is put on notice that should any harm, even the slightest scratch or sprain, come to any of the petitioners…the state will be held responsible,” the bench ruled.
