By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 6: A man, named Krishan Kumar, has written a letter to Justice (retired) BP Katakey complaining against ongoing illegal rat-hole coal mining at Goreng under West Khasi Hills and South Garo Hills and export of the same to Bangladesh by two individuals, Katman T Sangma and Raja Das, using fake invoices.
The complainant said coal is illegally mined but fake invoices are used to show that it is brought from Nagaland, and kept at the designated coal depot at Rongsa Awe, South Garo Hills district to be exported to Bangladesh through the Gasuapara Land Custom Station (LCS).
A copy of the complaint letter is available with The Shillong Times.
“The Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills has issued a transportation order to Katman T Sangma for 5,000 MT of coal dated December 20, 2024. I would like to bring to your kind attention that the coal which is said to be brought from the state of Nagaland is freshly mined coal from Goreng. The stock lying at Rongsa Awe has been claimed to be 5,000 MT whereas the physical quantity is around 300-400 MT against which the Deputy Commissioner, South Garo Hills has issued order for 5,000 MT without any crosscheck entry of such coal from the state of Nagaland from the concerned departments of Meghalaya,” the letter said.
The complainant attached photographs and videos of the Rongsa Awe coal depot with GPS location of the said coal stock.
Kumar urged Justice Katakey to conduct a surprise visit to the Rongsa Awe coal depot for physical verification without any delay.
“In support of my complaint, I have also attached the complaints filed by Rajen Ch Sangma of Era Aning, Nongalbibra, and Mingran T Sangma, resident of Samgong, Williamnagar, where they have lodged complaints opposing illegal rat-hole mining in South Garo Hills & West Khasi Hills districts. To support their complaints, they have also attached the photographs and videos with GPS coordinates as evidence through which we can understand that illegal mining is taking place in South Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills. This illegal activity is not only causing significant revenue loss to both the state and central governments but also harming the environment and the local communities,” the complainant added.