SHILLONG:
State Cabinet minister James K Sangma has lauded his colleague and Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui for trying to curb criminal activities, especially illegal coal mining and its transportation in the state.
Stating that Rymbui is doing a commendable job he said that it is not easy being a Home minister because he himself has been there on that ‘hot seat’.
“So we have to give slight benefit of the doubt to the Home minister and as far as what he is doing I think he is really trying his best and he is doing a tremendous job,” Sangma told reporters.
It may be mentioned that in February 2020, Sangma himself was removed from the Home department due to pressure from allies for his alleged failure in arresting illegal mining and transportation of coal in the state.
In February this year, the High Court of Meghalaya had taken up the issue of rampant illegal rat-hole mining of coal at Nengchigen village in West Khasi Hills, and had directed the Director General of Police and the Chief Secretary to file independent reports after visiting the site.
Subsequently, the court had reprimanded the state government for doing precious little to end illegal mining and transportation of coal.
Meanwhile, after being reprimanded by the high court the state government is now on its toes and in the last week, they have been able to seize large quantities of freshly dug coal from East Jaintia Hills and West Khasi Hills respectively.
On March 23 officials of East Jaintia Hills district conducted an inspection of coal stock lying at Rymbai Road and found 12 illegal coal dumps.
Similar stocks were also found dumped at Rymbai Road, 1 Kilo, 2 Kilo, 3 Kilo and 4 Kilo, Byndihati, and at 3 Kilo, 4 Kilo along Sutnga Road.
On March 24, officials of Mawshynrut, West Khasi Hills conducted a surprise inspection of coal mines at Nirang and Miangmawdar area and seized coal (2012.47 MT approximately), which appeared to have been illegally extracted.