Has rainwater washed away coal in Meghalaya and carried it into Bangladesh or Assam? Cabinet Minister Kyrmen Shylla has stirred a storm with his startling remarks, suggesting that Meghalaya’s extreme rainfall might have had a hand in the mysterious disappearance of coal. His comments come at a time when the state is under judicial scrutiny and facing growing public outrage over the vanishing of nearly 4,000 metric tonnes (MT) of illegally mined coal from two designated depots.
“When it comes to coal, it’s not that I am trying to justify myself or the state, but just to remind us that Meghalaya has highest rainfall, so having the highest rainfall anything can happen as I remember where there was one allegation mentioning that because of the soil and because of the rain in Meghalaya that the flood happens in Assam. You know especially from East Jaintia Hills all those water goes to Bangladesh and never know because of the rain it carried away. Being the highest rainfall chances is very high, still then I cannot blame just the rain it could be it could be not. I don’t have details with me to say that whether there is any illegal Coal trade but I believe that since we have the authority to look after this there should not be any illegal mining or transportation of coal it should be as per law.”
Without confirming or denying the existence of ongoing illegal coal trade, Shylla floated a dramatic possibility that Meghalaya’s notorious monsoon could have naturally transported the coal across borders. However, he stopped short of attributing full responsibility to the rain alone.
Asked about allegations that illegal coal mining continues despite government claims, Shylla responded, “The allegations can be against anybody, any state or any department but the thing is that we need to have a proof wheather its a fact or not, but I believe our people if it is for survival they might do it illegally otherwise nobody wants to do any kind of illegal methods where it can hamper the state or just for enjoyment they will never do any kind of illegalities. They are much happy specially with the announcement of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma about scientific mining.”
It may be mentioned that in a scathing observation, the High Court of Meghalaya on Thursday directed the state government to take urgent steps and hold persons or officials accountable after nearly 4,000 MT of illegally mined coal went missing from two depots. The revelation emerged after the Justice (Retd) BP Katakey committee submitted its 31st interim report to the court.
