Illegal charcoal trade continues unabated in WKH

NONGSTOIN: The Supreme Court’s ban on charcoal burning and its transportation and the state government’s ambitious greening effort appear to be going up in smoke in West Khasi Hills district with the timber mafia not only carrying on the activity with impunity, but even getting bolder by the day thanks primarily to the absence of a Territorial Division of the Forest department.
The illegal activity is thriving in every nook and corner of the district especially in Rambrai which produces tonnes of charcoal every year as the authorities turn a blind eye.
Sources said that till even last year, the mafia would transport the charcoal only during night to escape detection by the police or any other agency, but it is now being done in broad daylight.
The sources said that the absence of Territorial Division is the main cause of illegal burning of charcoal and transportation as the district has only the Social Forestry Division which has no authority to apprehend the smugglers.
The government has been campaigning and even encouraging school children for preservation of natural resources especially trees as a way of containing climate change and preventing disasters like floods, but such efforts are destined to end in futility if the mafia continues to have its way.
In 2017, after a team of forest department raided a charcoal burning pit, the perpetrators stopped their operation for three-four days only to return and resume their operation.
Some of them have even shifted their charcoal products to far-off places to avoid detection.
It was also said that the transporters of charcoal used to change routes soon after reaching Mawmaram from a small road connecting Mawmaram to Umsawkhwan avoiding the National Highways to escape detection by police and others.
Overturned coal truck reveals SC order violation
An overturned coal-laden truck was detected by police on Thursday at Jatah village under Umsohlait police station, Ri Bhoi, our Nongpoh correspondent adds.
According to the police, the truck (ML04 C 6884), which was illegally transporting extracted coal violating the Supreme Court order, was noticed after it overturned on the Umsning-Jagi road on reaching Jatah village around 3 am on Thursday.
A case has been registered at Umsohlait police station regarding the incident.
The truck driver and handyman managed to escape and no one came forward to claim the ownership of the truck.
The Supreme Court had allowed transportation of extracted coal from May 17 to 31 with strict guidelines.
The court had also asked the state government to take action against those who violate the order.
The final order by the court on the coal mining issue is expected next month.