Dispur admits illegal mining and transportation of coal in State

What’s the difference between a coal syndicate and illegal transportation of coal? ‘Syndicate’ is just a word. The very essence of this term comprises the activities – illegal mining and transportation of coal – Congress MLA

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Dispur has admitted that it has been aware of illegal mining and transportation of coal in the State. It has, however, stopped short of admitting the existence of a coal syndicate in the State.

State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary informed the State Assembly in his written reply to a question from Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha on Saturday that being aware of illegal mining and transportation of coal in the State it has asked the CID to investigate it. “We’re aware of illegal mining and transportation of coal. We’re taking action against such activities as well. However, there’s no coal syndicate in the State,” Patowary informed the State Assembly.

On the alleged transportation of coal to Bangladesh from the Barak Valley via Meghalaya, Patowary said, “We’ve requested the CBI to take up a case registered in Karimganj Police Station to that effect. That is not all. We’ve also formed a State-level monitoring committee to keep an eye on illegal mining and transportation of coal. We’ve asked the departments concerned to act tough against any illegal mining and transportation of coal.”

According to Patowary, 665 coal-laden trucks have been seized since 2016, besides the arrest of 422 people and registration of 254 cases to that effect.

Spelling out more specifically, Patowary said, “We’re aware of the illegal mining of coal in the Dehing Patkai Hills. A report from the Tinsukia SP says that 25 tonne of coal has been seized. The State Environment and Forest department has also registered twenty cases to that effect.”

Meanwhile, talking to the media outside the House, Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha said, “The government has admitted illegal mining and transportation of coal in the State, but stopped short of admitting the presence of a coal syndicate. What does it mean? What’s the difference between a coal syndicate and illegal transportation of coal? ‘Syndicate’ is just a word. The very essence of this term comprises the activities – illegal mining and transportation of coal. This amply means that the government has admitted the existence of a coal syndicate in the State.”

On the request to the CBI to take up the case in Karimganj Police Station relating to illegal transportation of coal from the Barak Valley to Bangladesh via Meghalaya, Dey Purkayastha said, “Has the CBI accepted the case? We’ve been banking on nothing short of a CBI inquiry into the coal syndicate in the State as it is not possible on the part of the State CID to cage the big fishes involved in it.”

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