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Call to clamp down on illegal coal trade

By STaff Correspondent

SHILLONG, Oct 5 - Though there are no takers till date of the NPP-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) Government-announced reward to informants giving details about illegal coal trade, however, scores of videos and pictures on the issue are circulated online.

Allies of the NPP-led MDA Government have themselves raised concern about the illegal transportation of coal.

Earlier, the chairman of the National Green Tribunal committee, Justice (retired) BP Katakey stepped down due to reported non-cooperation by the State Government to help stop illegal trade.

The NPP-led State Government has also not distanced itself from people allegedly involved in the brutal assault of social activist Agnes Kharsiing, who busted the coal mafia and their illegal trade a few years ago.

Under these circumstances, people are not coming forward and many prefer to highlight the alleged illegal transportation of coal through social media.

The �scheme� for the informants was put up after the NPP�s allies in the MDA government raised questions about the illegal coal mining in the State. The State Government then put up a notification.

�Reward to the informants providing specific information on incidences of illegal mining or transportation of coal on the centralised Helpline No. 1800-345-3846, or to the nearby police station, to the person in-charge of check gate under the DMR or to the divisional mining officer or to any other competent authority.�

The State Government claimed that the scheme was already in place from last year, but due to lack of publicity nobody knew about it. Even after the announcement of the schemes, people instead of reporting to the police or calling up the helpline numbers are posting videos on social media.

However, Kharshiing today has written to the Director General of Police, requesting �strict enforcement of NGT orders and provide safety and follow environmental norms.�

She attached pictures and videos of trucks plying all along the National Highway in West Jaintia Hills, East Khasi Hills district. She added that �some ministers and MLAs of the ruling Government� have raised the issue of illegal coal transportation with the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.

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