SHILLONG, May 27: The shocking story of clever manipulation of system, relating to siphoning off Meghalaya’s coal resources to Bangladesh, has resurfaced. Thanks to a TV channel of Assam that has followed up an expose by The Shillong Times, bringing astounding details of the modus operandi and even naming Health Minister James PK Sangma as the possible “mastermind” of this organised racket.
A day after the Guwahati-based news channel ran a story reaffirming that the infamous coal trader Balwant Soni alias Bhama had deep ties with Sangma, the local press fraternity confronted the current Health Minister only to derive a predictable denial. In fact, the elder sibling of Chief Minister Conrad Sangma has taken strong exception to the news item.
Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Sangma flatly denied the charge saying that an accusation is one thing and the reality is something else.
“If we accuse anyone we need to substantiate with evidence. We all know that accusations fly left and right. I have not seen the video. Whatever it is I am very sure it is something I have no involvement in. It is just a mere accusation,” the former home minister said.
When asked on the timing on the resurfacing of this video, he said that this kind of frivolous and baseless accusations will keep coming in with elections round the corner.
Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma also backed his elder sibling and ruled out a probe despite the serious nature of the allegations.
Asserting that any and every movement of coal takes place with documentation, the CM agreed to examine any allegation “if brought to the notice of the government”.
The clippings of the investigative report by the Assam-based news channel which went viral on social media, observed that Balwant Soni alias Bhama has found the “Aladdin’s lamp”. “From a few lakh of rupees in 2016 to a crorepati; from just 3 lakh rupees to over 100 crore in just 3 years, this man’s fortune changed in a few months. Here is proof of how the revenue just jumped over 400 times,” the report claimed.
The report continues: “Jai Maa Coal Pvt Ltd, a firm based in Guwahati is being used by Balwant Soni as the front. The director of the firm is Bhama’s son Youdhistra Bhama and the CA of the company is none other than Bhama’s wife. The firm has been forging the bills and undervaluing the tax invoices and transporting coal from Meghalaya to Bangladesh through Gasuapara Custom Station through the Baghmara area. It is alleged that Bhama’s family has close ties with James Sangma, brother of Conrad Sangma.”
“Few months back Balwant Soni was arrested by Assam Police on the basis of an FIR filed by the Assam tax department regarding pilferage of Rs 40 crore. Despite being behind bars, Bhama continued as the kingpin of illegal transportation of Meghalaya coal,” the report recalled.
It may be mentioned Bhama was arrested on February 9, 2022 by Assam police in a tax evasion case which had once again brought to light the illegal coal trade that has been going on in Meghalaya. Soon after his arrest, along with four others, The Shillong Times had reported [on February 12, 2022] that Bhama had purchased several high-end SUVs and heavy machines with the money that he had allegedly siphoned off through the use of e-way bills from coal businessmen in Gasuapara in South Garo Hills.
The e-way bills were generated from Assam in the name of Bhama’s firm – Jai Maa Coal Pvt Ltd – and used to export coal to Bangladesh through Gasuapara land custom station.
For reasons best known to the Meghalaya government, only Bhama’s firm was allowed operation and only the e-way bills generated by his firm could be used to export coal to Bangladesh through Gasuapara land custom station. On paper, the coal was being transported from Assam through the Dainadubi check gate in North Garo Hills. However, the ground reality was completely different.
According to ground reports, thousands of coal-laden trucks have been sent to Bangladesh through the Gasuapara land custom station. As no challans were issued, it caused a huge revenue loss for the state, estimated to run into crores of rupees.
Interestingly, just days after Bhama’s arrest in Guwahati, The Shillong Times had published another story [on February 14, 2022] quoting official sources that the state Mining and Geology department had received verbal “orders” to not frisk coal-laden trucks or question where they originated from.
Those, who had received the orders, played safe as they ran the risk of being transferred for non-compliance, sources said, indicating the entire operation had the blessings of the powers-that-be.
Sources from the Directorate of Mineral Office said no coal-laden truck from Assam entered Meghalaya for transit to Bangladesh through the Gasuapara land custom port in South Garo Hills. Had there been any such movement, it would have been captured by the CCTV cameras installed at the Dainadubi check gate in North Garo Hills, they said.
When asked how coal was allowed to be transported this way, the Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills had told The Shillong Times to contact the Mining and Geology department.
On further query, the department officials said it was prohibited from checking the trucks or questioning the truckers where the vehicles originated from.
The order on the transport of coal was issued by the South Garo Hills district administration after the Mining and Geology department had given its nod for transport through Meghalaya.
The modus operandi, according to a coal miner who did not wish to be named, was very simple – coal would be fist procured by the traders and exporters from near the Jadi area in South Garo Hills, sent by trucks through National Highway 62 and then offloaded at various depots of Gasuapara.
For export, the traders used e-way bills that were generated in the name of Bhama’s firm. The traders had to shell out around Rs 50,000 per truck.
The sources said the movement of coal-laden trucks from Meghalaya to Assam through Dainadubi as well as Aradonga in West Khasi Hills is also being allowed after alleged “payment” ranging between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.3 lakh – all without valid challans.
Despite several attempts, police officials in Guwahati dealing with the case curiously continue to remain tightlipped over the case raising a suspicion that their voice has been gagged from the top.
