Shillong, Feb 13: The state government has maintained transparency and committed to checking illegalities in coal mining in the state, said cabinet minister Marcuise N Marak on Thursday.
“MDA government is very transparent and you must have seen chief minister Conrad K Sangma’s initiatives, the way he is leading our state…No such things (illegal mining) are happening,” he said in reaction to allegations by opposition parties ahead of the autonomous district council (ADC) elections in Khasi and Jaintia Hills.
The opposition parties referred to the recent interim report submitted by Justice (Retired) BP Katakey, asking the state government to conduct drone surveillance in all coal mining areas to detect possible illegalities.
Denying any illegal coal mining happening in the state, the minister said, “I think there is no such illegal mining in South Garo Hills.”
However, he said, some mine owners are waiting for their licenses to carry out scientific mining as mandated by the government.
