Truckers want mined coal auctioned

SHILLONG, Nov 7: The Jaintia Hills Truck Owners’ Association (JHTOA) has urged Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to issue challans for the auction and transportation of the remaining quantity of assessed coal.
In a memorandum submitted to Sangma recently, JHTOA president Biangshuwa Shylla urged the government to initiate the process for auctioning the assessed coal stock of 32 lakh MT, which will ease the economic problems faced by the members of the association and people in the state.
“The ban imposed on mining and transportation of coal has affected the livelihood of the people of Jaintia Hills and the state at large dependent on the mining of coal,” he said.
Shylla said the National Green Tribunal had directed the state government to assess the already-mined coal in different districts of the state.
“The report tabled after the inspection showed that the quantity of mined coal was 32 lakh MT. It has been directed that this coal should be auctioned under the supervision of Coal India Limited. But the auction process has not been completed to date,” he said.
Insisting that the people associated with coal are eagerly awaiting the disposal of the assessed quantity, the JHTOA president urged the government to start the auctioning process.
He said all the members of the association are truck owners who were totally dependent on the mining activities prior to the ban in April 2014. Most members have since been struggling to make ends meet and pay off the loans for purchasing their vehicles.
Shylla, however, appreciates the efforts of the Sangma government, which led to the Supreme Court paving the way for the resumption of coal mining with proper implementation of the law.