EXCLUSIVE
Meghalaya BJP Vice President and Tura MDC Bernard N. Marak said a committee led by him has apprised the Centre about alleged illegal uranium extraction in the Garo Hills region. The revelation comes alongside a detailed report on rampant illegal coal mining in the state, submitted by Marak’s fact-finding committee to the central leadership.
Talking to Meghalaya News 24, the state BJP Vice President claimed that during the coal inquiry, the committee also uncovered information pointing to illegal extraction of uranium in South Garo Hills. Preliminary findings indicate that the radioactive mineral is being transported in small quantities by private parties using high-end vehicles, beyond the purview of government machinery. Villagers reportedly witnessed such activities, including an incident involving a private vehicle allegedly ferrying uranium ore, he claimed.
BJP Meghalaya Vice President and MDC from Tura, Bernard N. Marak, said he has written to the Centre regarding the alleged uranium extraction taking place in South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya. Marak, who led a committee investigating illegal mining, confirmed that a comprehensive fact-finding report on alleged illegal coal mining has already been submitted to the Centre.
“We have submitted the report. The report on alleged illegal coal mining has been submitted and it has been submitted to the Centre. And I think something has happened because we are getting feedback — some internal enquiries are going on,” Marak said.
Recalling his visits to various coal depots and mining sites, he remarked, “Last year I have observed because I have also visited some of the coal mines and depots, I found coal everywhere. But every time somebody went for the inquiry, someone or the other from the system, I would say system, they will always inform where the inquiry is going to happen. So that night itself it is clear. So those informations we have, so this information has actually gone as a recommendation or a report. That’s why we don’t want to disclose this in media, because it should be properly investigated.”
When asked if there were “hands in gloves” between authorities and illegal coal traders, Marak asserted, “Yes, we have enough evidence against this. And as I have said, the report will speak of it. I have submitted this to the Centre, to the BJP leadership; it has been submitted and it will go to the concerned Ministry. You will come to know when things start to happen. Our report was recently submitted. So deeper study is going on and we have enough information — we have even information on illegal extraction of uranium. So it’s a big thing. In a very raw form, we have information.”
Pressed further on the alleged uranium extraction, Marak responded, “Exactly, it’s very big. It’s in Garo Hills. No, it’s not by the government’s machineries — these are being transported in very high-profile vehicles, very expensive vehicles. So it’s not suspicious at all, in a very small quantity.”
Pointing out that uranium is a radioactive mineral, Marak said, “It has been seen by the villagers. It is found in South Garo Hills.” While refraining from confirming how long such activities have been going on, he added, “There has been one incident where one Fortuner vehicle was actually transporting them in a very small quantity, but that also is illegal. So this was reported to us by some villages. So we have made a note on that also. It’s a private party, private vehicle.”
Explaining the committee’s scope of work, he stated, “Coal mining, I was entrusted to report from Garo Hills, so I have reported from Garo Hills. Our report mostly focused in Garo Hills. Asked about Jaintia Hills, we got very less report from Jaintia Hills, even Khasi Hills also we got less report. But we know the fact we cannot just assume — while submitting the report we have to have our own evidence. About uranium, we have just mentioned in the report; we have not actually gone deep into it, but when we were enquiring about the coal we got information about this also, so this is just a line or two that such things are happening. It depends on the central authorities — if they need more information, we will surely go deeper into it.”
