JH miners to approach CM over illegal coal transport

JOWAI: A section of miners in East Jaintia Hills has flagged the issue of illegal transportation of coal and decided to seek the chief minister’s intervention.
A prominent businessman from Wapung alleged that 12 and 14-wheelers carry 35 to 40 metric tonne of coal with 9 tonne transit challans. Many of them do not even have documents.
“We are preparing a presentation to the chief minister in this regard as we feel that such illegal activities will not only affect the traders here but also the revenue of the state government,” he added.
Hundreds of trucks carry excess quantity of coal from East Jaintia Hills to Beltola in Assam in violation of the NGT order and the Supreme Court ruling. The coal is usually hidden under tarpaulin.
The Wapung trader alleged that police at various locations are bribed.
“We carry only 9 MT in six-wheeler trucks and if the weighbridge at 13th Mile, Ri Bhoi, finds the quantity has exceeded, the consignment is always unloaded. Whereas those who have proper setting with the staff of the weighbridge are allowed to carry even three to four times more than the approved quantity,” one of the traders said.
There are frequent detention of illegal trucks and recently, coal mines at Rymbai and Umsong areas were seen operating and fresh coal were still being extracted.