TURA, Jan 14: The Constitutional Rights Forum (CRF) has alleged that illegal extraction of coal is taking place in South Garo Hills — to make the matter worse, right under the nose of government officials, including the deputy commissioner.
Earlier, A’chik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM), too, had petitioned the chief secretary against government officials for allegedly allowing an Assam-based firm and others to export and transport coal from Nongal Jadigittim area of the district.
In its complaint to the Chief Secretary on Friday, the Forum sought an immediate halt to the transportation of coal while calling for action against the commissioner of transport, director of mining and geology as well as the DC of South Garo Hills for allegedly allowing the illegal activity.
Earlier, an order allowing the transport of coal through the state of Meghalaya from Assam was reportedly given to one M/S Jaimaa Coal Private Limited of Guwahati. Through the order, the coal from outside the state could be transported through Meghalaya and exported through the port of Gasuapara into neighbouring Bangladesh. A similar order to the same effect was also provided by the DC of SGH to one Maruti Fuels, Dudhnoi, in Assam.
According to the Forum, the coal, which is being transported into Bangladesh, is not being brought from outside the state but was being mined from the district of South Garo Hills.
The Forum also claimed that the transported coal has been extracted from the villages of Rongding Awe, Dangsa Awe, Rongsa Awe, Gare Gittim and Are Gittim.
With regard to the challans issued by the DMR in the name of successful bidder, Babul Marak, for the coal that has been lying in the aforesaid villages, the Forum claimed that the coal that is being transported has been added with freshly dug, illegal coal on a daily basis.
The Forum also alleged that the entire coal transport was taking place with the help of “colluding” government officials and politicians. The illegal transport, they asserted, would also cause a huge loss to the state exchequer.
“There are no checks on the number of trucks or the quantity of coal being transported as there is no system in place to do so. This has given scope for manipulation for both illegal mining and transport. We, therefore, seek a spot inquiry to verify the information and action against those colluding officers,” the Forum demanded in its complaint.