NONGSTOIN: Continuing its tirade against the illegal charcoal business in West Khasi Hills, the patrolling squad of Divisional Forest Officer, Khasi Hills (Territorial) Division, Shillong seized six trucks carrying charcoal illegally recently. While three trucks were detected at Umling, the others were held at Byrnihat.
In a statement, the authorities informed that regular patrolling is being conducted on highways and vulnerable points to check the movement of illegal charcoal.
Following the seizure, the violators were booked under Section 9(1) of the Meghalaya Charcoal (Control of production, Storage, Trade and Transit) Rules, 2008 and Section 40 of the Meghalaya Forest Regulation Act, 1973.
Meanwhile, reliable sources informed that around four to five trucks of charcoal were transported from West Khasi Hills in an attempt to give a slip to the authorities before the next inspection of the depots.
