SHILLONG: Rampant illegal transportation of coal has been reported in both West Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills for the last few days.
Sources said there were several instances of coal being loaded in trucks on NH-44E in violation of the NGT order at Nongspung in West Khasi Hills on Tuesday. After loading coal, the trucks come through Shillong and proceed to Byrnihat.
Sources added that many truckers now dump their coal in factories in Narbong area in Byrnihat which are not designated for dumping. This results in loss of revenue as the truckers carry coal beyond the limit specified in the challans.
Sources added that overloaded trucks pay Rs 500-1,000 to every police station and pay at various places for crossing weighbridge and buying challans.
According to sources, despite complaints, police have not taken any action.
The dumping of coal at a convenient place for transportation at a later stage to evade NGT rules was also reported in various places.
The dumping of coal on the road side affects the health of the people and also causes contamination for water bodies, the sources added. CSWO president Agnes Kharshiing had taken up the matter with both the deputy commissioner and the police in West Jaintia Hills. The complaint letter to the deputy commissioner said coal is being transported from East Jaintia Hills through West Jaintia Hills which is not the prescribed route as coal from West Garo Hills should be going to Assam via Garampani as per the guidelines issued by the Committee constituted by NGT.
Besides, the overloaded trucks do not specify any special markings as “Coal transported under NGT order” as framed by the committee constituted by NGT.
“Coal is being offloaded, dumped and sold along Mookyndur, West Jaintia Hills, which is in violation of the NGT order as the trucks have to ply straight to the unloading points,” the complaint said.
Another FIR lodged by Kharshiing at Jowai police station on Wednesday said coal trucks plying through West Jaintia Hills en route Mawryngkneng are carrying coal beyond the specified limit of nine metric tonnes violating the NGT order.
Other violations include deviation of coal transportation routes, sale of coal on national highway and dumping on highways resulting in pollution.
