Meghalaya taking action against illegal mining and transportation of coal: Sangma

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Thursday said the state government is seriously taking action against illegal mining and transportation of coal and so far 1652 cases of illegal transportation and mining have been registered.
“The government is leaving no stone unturned to stop illegal mining and illegal transportation of coal. Apart from punitive penal actions, the district administration is taking all possible steps to stop illegal mining and whenever such cases are detected, strong actions under various provisions of the IPC and MMDR Act, 1957 are being taken against violators,” Sangma said while replying to Calling Attention moved by suspended Congress legislator, Process T Sawkmie.
He also informed the House that the district administration is also taking preventive actions for preventing illegal mining by increasing patrolling including drone surveillance by the police. Stating that illegal transportation and mining is a serious issue, the Chief Minister said that he cannot comment on the issue of “illegal mining” in the state right now as it is sub judice and pending before the high court of Meghalaya
However, Sangma informed the House that action has been taken against violators and so far, apart from the 1652 cases being registered, 1354 cases have been charge-sheeted and 472 persons convicted.
Referring to the death of miners in illegal coal mines, Sangma said that this year in August a case of mining death occurred in a remote village of West Khasi Hills district and the coal mine owner Hubert R Sangma has been arrested.
Illegal coal extracted and tools to extract the mineral in a clandestine manner have also been seized by the district police of West Khasi Hills.