Meghalaya CM refutes allegations of illegal coal transportation

SHILLONG:

Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday refuted allegations of illegal coal transportation in the State.

The State Government is taking all possible measures to ensure that there is no illegal movement of coal-laden trucks, Sangma said.

Sangma asserted that people need to change their mindset and not to come to a natural conclusion that it is an illegal movement of coal whenever they see trucks along the national highway.

"Not only trucks carrying coal are plying along the national highway. But we have witnessed that people will come to a natural conclusion that its illegal movement of coal trucks. Yes, there are coal trucks that are plying. But we cannot stop them since they have all the necessary documents and challans for transportation of the coal," Sangma told reporters on Monday.

He further added that the Deputy Commissioners and Transport department have been asked to ensure that there are no illegalities.

According to him, the government is frequently holding meetings with the police, deputy commissioners and transport department to deliberate on this matter.

As per the directive of the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal, the government is setting up integrated check gates equipped with all the technologies, the CM added.

On the allegations of the BJP, which is one of the allies of the MDA government, about the illegal transportation of coal, he said that it is easy to make allegations.

"We cannot just ask the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to carry out a probe if the government does not come to a definite conclusion that the matter needs to be investigated," Sangma said.