SHILLONG, Dec 14: The Meghalaya Truck Owners and Suppliers Association (MTOSA) has demanded the five businessmen who were issued challans to put them on sale for transportation of the auctioned coal.
Talking to reporters after meeting two Cabinet ministers — Sniawbhalang Dhar and Dasakhiatbha Lamare — at their chambers on Tuesday, association president, Balen Thubru, said that they are making this appeal so that the auctioned coal can be transported.
Earlier, the association had questioned the “disappearance” of five businessmen who were issued the challan.
According to Thubru, the coal traders are facing difficulty as they have been unable to sell the assessed coal as per the directives of the Supreme Court due to the ‘disappearance’ of the aforementioned businessmen.
It may be mentioned that the five businessmen, who received challans from the District Mineral Officer, Jaintia Hills, include Heading Sutnga (1,100 tonnes), Ready Sutnga (16,480 tonnes), Dominic Myrthong (3,510 tonnes), K Kharkongor (3,850 tonnes) and Taiphor War Dkhar (28,840 tonnes).
While urging the state government to scrap the challan if the five businessmen cannot put it on sale, the association president pointed out that everything has come to a standstill.
He also informed that the price per challan will be around Rs 1.20 lakh.
On the other hand, Thubru said that he is yet to receive information about the apex court directing installation of GPS tracker in coal trucks, even as he stated that the association would welcome, if there is such a move.
He said that the two ministers had assured that they will take up this matter with Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma.
