SHILLONG: Confusion prevails after the state government allowed transportation of coal by the trucks in transit.
After the Supreme Court banned transportation of already extracted coal on January 15, the Mining and Geology Department issued a modified order on January 18 allowing transportation of coal-laden trucks in transit, which was okayed by the Supreme Court during the hearing on January 28.
However, there are apprehensions that trucks carrying illegal coal can also stand in queue with trucks in transit, thereby violating the apex court order.
There were media reports that illegal transportation of coal was in full swing along the highways and the Shillong bypass after the January 18 modified order of the state government.
When contacted, an official with the Mining and Geology Department said respective deputy commissioners and district police chiefs are supposed to take action against any violation of orders of either NGT or the Supreme Court.
Sources said the deputy commissioners are in a dilemma as to how to deal with the coal-laden trucks in transit.
According to them, it is difficult to identify genuine and illegal trucks.
The sources said one of the deputy commissioners had even sought clarification from the department to address the issue but the queries were not clarified.
Moreover, how long the trucks in transit should be allowed to transport coal is not specified in the January 18 order of the Mining and Geology Department.
Challan problem
Another problem is that those who paid money for challans to transport coal are not being able to do so after the government allowed only the trucks in transit.
The coal transporters paid for challans to transport the remaining extracted coal of 1,76,000 metric tonnes.
However, majority have not been able to transport the already extracted coal after the Supreme Court on January 15 disallowed transportation.
Earlier, the court had allowed transportation of already extracted coal till January 31, but it changed the decision following the adverse reports related to Ksan mine tragedy.
Whether the challans available with those who could not export coal would be still valid is another question doing the rounds. If the challans are not valid, it will be a loss for the coal transporters as they have to pay again to get fresh challans.
An official with the mining and geology department admitted the problem and added that this will have to be sorted out.
