By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Realizing the fact that the coal miners in the State are not paying the Central Excise Duty, the Central Excise Department has launched a massive plan of action to book such culprits.
The Central Excise Department has so far seized 91 trucks laden with coal worth nearly Rs 6 crore from two different locations in Assam on Wednesday.
The Commissioner of Central Excise Department, Shillong G Panmei said that coal was brought under the Central Excise Tax since 2011 and all coal miners were expected to pay the applicable excise duties.
However, miners from the State are still reluctant to obey the orders and therefore the seizure was made.
It may be mentioned that 81 trucks carrying coal weighing 1188.97 metric tonnes were seized from Khanapara on Wednesday while nine more trucks laden with 81 metric tonnes of coal were seized from Badarpur area in Barak Valley.
The coal-laden trucks, which were coming from Meghalaya, were intercepted at Khanapara and subsequently seized on charges of not paying Central Excise Duty.
According to Panmei, the miners will have to pay the one percent central excise tax on coal.
The drive was carried out jointly with Customs Preventive, NER, Shillong and the Assam Police.
He also stated that the Excise Department had requested the Central Government to waive the tax but the request was turned down. “This exercise is just a beginning of our action,” he added.