SHILLONG:
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong on Tuesday said that stern action will be taken against illegal mining and transport of coal.
Speaking to reporters, he said the government’s intention has been very clear whether it was during the last term or in the current term. He said that the so-called “high level” should not be there and, in fact, on the ground, it is not there and it will be ensured that there is a “zero level”.
Recently, opposition Congress chief Vincent H Pala had lauded Tynsong for taking the initiative to do away with the “high-level”, which is alleged to be involved in facilitating illegal transport of coal in the state.
On the high court’s order for the deployment of 10 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) to check the transport of illegally mined coal, the deputy chief minister said that the state government had written to the Centre last time based on the court order for providing the services of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and now the CAPF.
“Therefore, I still don’t know whether they (Centre) will be able to provide us the services of these people or not. So right now I can’t say anything,” he said.
Tynsong also claimed that there was no more illegal transport of coal and said action would be taken against anyone involved in such illegal activity.
When asked if the service of CAPF will still be required in the state, the deputy chief minister however said, “Don’t compare the high court’s order and the duty of the state government… we are here to make sure that any illegal movement or any illegal mining should not at all take place throughout the state.”
DPR for the western bypass completed
Deputy Chief Minister in-charge PWD (Road) Prestone Tynsong on Tuesday informed that a detailed project report (DPR) for the construction of the Shillong Western bypass has been completed.
“Now tendering process is on,” Tynsong told reporters.
He said such projects are being handed over to the NHIDCL or the NHAI and that the state government has got nothing to do with it except for handing over the land through proper procedure.
“What is the total estimated cost that will only be known once the detailed estimate is completed because right now on an emergency basis, we have asked each division to carry out the repairing work throughout Shillong city as well as those destinations (which required urgent repairing like the places which are being visited by the G20 members),” he added.