Truckers’ body slams govt over coal transportation conditions

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Commercial Truck Owners and Operators Association has slammed the State Government for the conditions imposed for transportation of coal.
Terming the conditions as illegal, Association president Agustine Shanpru said that it is practically impossible to transport coal which is supposed to be transported in nine months in just 45 days.
“The Government is behaving like a pirate and is showing interest only in the money realized out of royalty collection for coal,” he said, adding that the Government itself is indirectly promoting   overloading by trucks since now truck drivers are forced to transport at least 1000 Mt of coal within 45 days.
Stating that the State Government is cash strapped due to its insensible and inefficient actions Shanpru said, “The greediness of the Government can be ascertained from the recent notification issued by the Director of Mineral Resources asking coal traders to deposit royalty by February 11.”