By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Business rivalry is common in the coal mining areas of Meghalaya. This time the controversy is about ownership of a coal mine at Umtukut Village in South West Khasi Hills.
A local businessman Gaurav Singh Rathore, who took a coal mine on lease in South West Khasi Hills, has clarified that he had paid an amount of Rs 1.1 crore to one Dharambir Bansal for mining activities.
Rathore said that the remaining amount of Rs 71 lakh was outstanding.
Rathore alleged that Dharambir Bansal is not producing the original documents to prove his ownership over the mine which he had leased to the former for Rs 1.72 crore.
On March 8 last, Rathore also lodged a complaint at Ranikor Police Station that one Dharambir Bansal along with his son Sunil Bansal illegally entered into his coal mine with the support of one Fernandes Marak and his accomplices who were armed with sharp weapons. They asked the workers to stop mining activities.
“We have paid a huge amount for the coal mine but Bansal refused to give us the power of attorney for the coal mine,” Rathore said adding that once he gets the original papers of the mine which was leased to him, he is ready to pay the remaining amount. Adding to the complexity of the case, one John Martin Lamurong lodged a complaint at Ranikor police station recently that Rathore had cheated him of Rs 71 lakh being the remaining unpaid amount for the mine lease.
Rathore informed that Lamurong is also making claims to the mine.
The police are investigating the matter to ascertain the facts.