By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Cases of diversion in the movement of coal laden trucks, to avoid check posts have come to fore and calculations have shown a loss of revenue owing to the same.
According to the documents obtained through RTI, it was found that the total number of trucks leaving Kynshi check post in West Khasi Hills did not tally with the total number of trucks verified at Umling check post.
From January to June 2013, as many as 12,735 coal laden trucks were checked and verified at Kynshi check post, however, the number went down to 9826 when they reached Umling Check Post indicating that about 2909 coal laden trucks had diverted their route from West Khasi Hills to some other areas of the State.
The RTI filed by the HNYF Western Zone with the Directorate of Mineral Resources, revealed that during the month of January, about 1692 trucks were checked at Kynshi check post but only 1514 passed through the Umling check post. In February, about 3142 trucks left West Khasi Hills but only 2843 were checked at Umling check post. In March, 3316 trucks were verified at Kynshi check post, however, only 2925 reached Ri Bhoi. In April, 2190 trucks left West Khasi Hills but only 1499 reached Ri Bhoi. In May, 1904 trucks were verified at Kynshi check post, but only 856 were checked at Umling check post and in June, from the total of 491 trucks checked at Kynshi check post, only 189 were verified at Umling check post.
The checking was however, stopped with the suspension of the Kynshi check post on June 10 due to protest from various quarters. It may be reminded that the Kynshi check post started operating from January this year.
Further, these trucks were checked based on the availability of the paid challan worth Rs 6, 075 per truck and according to the calculations, it was found that the government’s exchequer was enriched by Rs 7, 73, 65 125 from these 12, 735 trucks between January and June.
When asked whether this calculation tallied with the amount given by the government, HNYF Western Zone President, KS Rani said that “We made the calculation ourselves based the availability of the documents verifying the rate of each challan and the total number of trucks plying between these months. We, however, did not seek the exact amount; the government had collected in between these months.”
Rani also admitted that there could be leakages of revenue considering the diversion of trucks and violation of the upper limit to carry load.
The HNYF president also pointed out that as per the government’s notification, the revised rate of the security deposit on coal is Rs 1736 per truck load of coal not exceeding 9 MT and Rs 3664 per truck load of coal not exceeding 19 MT.
When calculated, the taxation amount received from these trucks loading 9 MT (Rs 1736) in between these months is Rs 2, 21 07 960 and the total amount received from the payment of the DMR challan and the security deposit by these 12,735 trucks is Rs 9, 94, 73, 085.
“We are not sure whether the calculations made are correct or not but we can say that a lot of revenue was generated with the setting up of the Kynshi check gate, thereby benefitting the local populace,” Rani said.
In line with this, the HNYF urged the government to re-open the Kynshi check post at the same time to set up a weigh bridge at Kynshi or Mairang to prevent trucks from carrying coal beyond the prescribed limit. “This will also prevent the trucks carrying load, more than the prescribed limit, from unloading the coal at some other place before reaching the designated check post,” Rani added.