Govt allows transport of coal loaded before SC order

SHILLONG: The state government on Friday issued a notification allowing coal loaded before the Supreme Court order and consignments coming from outside the state to be transported.
In an order, the Mining and Geology Department said it was partially modifying its Tuesday’s order to stop all transport of coal in the state.
The coal which had been loaded from sites and were in transit before the January 15 order of the apex court will be allowed to be transported with valid documents.
Also, the order allowed coal that has originated outside the state and “being transported through the State of Meghalaya for consumption by factories, general household or export” to be transported.
Dolly Khonglah, secretary of the Meghalaya International Exporters Chamber of Commerce, said after 20 coal trucks from Bhutan were stopped by the customs check gate in Dawki, she had approached the government urging it to allow vehicles which are using the state only for transit.
“I really fought for the Bhutanese coal trucks. I took up the matter with the commissioner of customs and he then wrote to the secretary of the mining department,” she said, adding, “I sincerely thank the commissioner customs (preventive) for his prompt action and also mining and geology secretary T Dkhar for his concern.”
Khonglah said the trucks will be allowed to move from Saturday.