SHILLONG: There have been allegations of a ‘charcoal scandal’ at 14 Mer, Byrnihat in Ri-Bhoi District, with illegal stockpile of charcoal being smuggled outside the State by a company based there.
The allegations were leveled by an organisation called the Hynniewtrep Organization Youth Movement (HOYM) in a statement issued here. It suspected a scam after charcoal laden trucks reached 14 Mer, Byrnihat despite the construction of check gate by the State government and the KHADC.
The place where the illegal stock of charcoal is collected belongs to Satyam Alloys Pvt. Ltd. owned by Sanjay Agarwal along with one M. Ali. The charcoal is transported from West Khasi Hill, Jaintia Hills, Ri-Bhoi and other parts of the State.
Illicit liquor menace: Deadline to govt
The HOYM also issued a one month deadline to the State government to close all shops selling illicit liquor at Nongpoh.
The organization criticized the Excise department, the village heads and the Ri-Bhoi district administration for the unchecked sale of illicit liquor in Nongpoh.
