Govt’s apathy blamed for economic decline of South West Khasi Hills

SHILLONG: The economy of the border areas of South West Khasi Hills district, particularly those of the coal and limestone belts have been severely affected owing to the inability to transport and sell coal even during the grace period allowed by the National Green Tribunal.
According to sources, the main reason for not being able to transport and sell the extracted coal was due to the fact that Meghalaya Government and Transport Department could not erect weigh bridges at the three Land Custom Stations at Borsora, Cherragaon and Bagkli where coal is mandatorily weighed before being exported to Bangladesh or to the domestic market at Guwahati due to which the economy of the exporters, mine owners, traders, businessmen, labourers, marginal and small time daily wage earners have been hit hard.
Markets have closed down, shops and establishments remained shut, labourers coming from other states and within Meghalaya have disappeared, and moreover, the flow of essential commodities has dried up but the government has failed to rescue the people, the Coal Mine and Limestone Exporters’ Association alleged.