Coal movement from Gasuapara stopped: Rymbui

SHILLONG, May 26: Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui on Thursday said the government, duty-bound to implement the order of the High Court of Meghalaya, has stopped the transport of coal through the Gasuapara land custom station (LCS) in vehicles with e-way bills issued by the Guwahati-based Jai Maa Enterprise.
The high court had cracked the whip on the transport of coal through the Gasuapara LCS after hearing a petition by Maikel T. Sangma, an exporter who had flagged the illegal supply of coal to Bangladesh. The court’s order followed the failure of the state’s chief secretary in taking action vis-à-vis the complaint filed by Sangma seeking a stop to the illegal transport of coal to the neighbouring country.
The transportation of coal had been allowed through the use of e-way bills of Jai Maa Enterprise.
Sangma, represented by lawyer Sujit Dey, had alleged an attempt to export coal illegally without permission or assessment of quantity.
The order for the use of e-way bills by the Guwahati-based firm was apparently given by the state DMR office with instructions to check entry through Dainadubi in North Garo Hills and exit (into Bangladesh) at Gasuapara in South Garo Hills.
Based on that order, the deputy commissioner of South Garo Hills allowed the transport of coal through the district.
The order, however, did not mention the quantity of coal to be exported, which was stated to have been dumped at Gasuapara.