Mukul Sangma, the Leader of Opposition in Meghalaya, has accused the NPP-led MDA government of a systematic approach that facilitates illegal coal mining in the state. His allegations follow the tragic death of 33 laborers in an illegal coal mine in East Jaintia Hills on February 5. Sangma contends that the government’s strategy enables illegal activities, emboldening perpetrators. He emphasized the growing scale of illegal coal mining evidenced by complaints from NGOs and political parties, asserting that recent disasters are the result of government inaction. He criticized ongoing illegalities as a blemish on the state’s integrity, demanding that instances of illegal mining be separated for judicial proceedings rather than included in a pending Public Interest Litigation (PIL). He highlighted the reports from Justice (retd) B.P. Katakey, which detail numerous illegal activities, but voiced skepticism regarding the transparency of the Judicial Inquiry Commission. Sangma underscored the dual responsibility of both state and central governments for investigating these incidents, given that coal regulation falls under central jurisdiction.
Mukul Sangma Accuses MDA Government of Allowing Illegal Mining via ‘Well-Scripted Modus Operandi’
