TURA, Jan 8: The issue of illegal transportation of coal has come to the light anew with the locals in East and North Garo Hills districts not only alleging that the illegal activities continue to take place but also bolstering their claims with photographic evidences.
The reports that have resurfaced claim that the black gold is allegedly extracted from the rat-hole mines in West Khasi Hills district and are clandestinely smuggled into Assam through the Garo Hills roads.
Perturbed citizens residing in East and North Garo Hills districts have taken to social media, alerting the public about the alleged illegal transportation, which they say has been happening since the beginning of December 2020. They have also backed their claims with photographic evidences of the heist taking place.
“The coal is being carried in trucks under the cover of a tarpaulin to make it appear that it is coke which is being transported. Every day, since the month of December, dozens of coal -laden trucks covered in plastic sheets are making their way into Assam’s Goalpara district,” alleged vigilant citizens from the region.
According to the sources, the illegal mining is taking place in the Shallang region of West Khasi Hills, which has for long been an active mining area.
It may be mentioned that Shallang region is also home to several coke factories.
Given that Shallang borders Rongjeng in East Garo Hills, the black diamond is ferried in trucks through Rongjeng towards Dainadubi in North Garo Hills, from where it enters Dudhnoi in Assam.
The vast and barren region of the inter-district border between West Khasi Hills and East Garo Hills, where there is hardly any mechanism to keep a tab on illegal transportation, has given ample opportunities for the coal mafia to cash in on the situation and ship out as much coal as possible.
Several NGOs and people had, in the past, accused the coal mafia of paying off the ones manning the checkpoints for a hindrance-free passage. “If there were no pay-offs, how is it possible for the trucks to pass through when there are check gates along the route. Surely something is not right,” allege the citizens, who want a stop on the illegal activities.
