SHILLONG, Oct 13 - Ahead of the ensuing Autumn Session of the Meghalaya Assembly, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has defended his Government and Cabinet colleagues, categorically ruling out any wrongdoings in the ongoing coal transportation in the State.
Reacting to media reports about the alleged involvement of his Cabinet colleague and elder brother James Sangma in the alleged illegal coal transportation cartel, Sangma said the allegations are �completely baseless�.
The Chief Minister said such allegations can easily be made, but added that he is personally seeing to it that the police ensure that no illegalities take place in Meghalaya as far as coal transportation is concerned.
�The police have been told time and again to ensure that no illegal activity takes place. We have given very clear and strict instructions to all departments and agencies to ensure that no such illegal movement occurs,� Sangma said in reply to the alleged illegal coal trade.
The Chief Minister stated that regular meetings with the police department are being held. Moreover, the deputy commissioners are holding regular meetings with the Transport, Mining and other departments to ensure that no illegal movement of coal takes place.
Urging people not to be �sceptical� when they see a coal-laden truck moving on the highway, Sangma said the public mindset should change as trucks carrying coal do not necessarily imply that they are plying illegally.
On some of the monitoring mechanisms to check illegality in this regard, Sangma said the State would soon set up integrated check gates with modern technologies like weight-in-motion devices and CCTV cameras.
Further rubbishing the coalition partner BJP�s demand of a CBI probe into the alleged illegal coal transportation, Sangma said the party (BJP) is acting irresponsibly.
He said the CBI cannot be called in to investigate whimsically. �The Government has to act responsibly and practically. If there are any issues, we are definitely going to look into them,� Sangma stressed.
