Probe ordered into Balat border haat anomalies

SHILLONG: A magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the illegal business being carried out at Balat border haat in East Khasi Hills.
This was informed by Chief Minister Mukul Sangma in the Assembly on Monday after Opposition Leader Donkupar Roy moved a call attention motion on the irregularities in the functioning of the border haat based on media reports.
Roy pointed out that as per reports, an RTI activist had taken up the issue of collection of parking fees and revenue at the haat without any receipt by unidentified locals.
The RTI activist identified as Banshai Marbaniang had further alleged that most of the vendors at the border haat are non-tribals.
Roy said shopkeepers at the border haat are carrying out benami transactions.
Earlier, the RTI activist had sought the intervention of the East Khasi Hills DC in this regard.
In his reply, the chief minister said the government had entrusted magistrate J.R.T Sangma to conduct the inquiry. “Necessary action will be taken as per the permissible rules based on the inquiry,” he added.
According to the chief minister, it is not pleasant to hear that the border haat is being misused.
“We had taken pride in resuming the border haats along the Indo-Bangla border. After the Centre allotted two border haats in the past, proposal was sent for 22 more and the Centre sanctioned four more haats,” he said and added that the government would not tolerate any illegal activities in the haats. When contacted, East Khasi Hills DC P.S Dkhar said the collection of parking fee was stopped following the intervention of the district administration.
The magistrate will visit the Balat border haat on Tuesday to assess whether there is any benami transactions, he added.