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SHILLONG: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) observed there was no system in place in the Mining Department of Meghalaya to cross verify and reconcile the figures/data of the mining check gates with the records of the Land Custom Stations (LCS). The CAG found Borsora LCS, government of India, recorded export of 6.29 lakh metric tons of coal as per the records pertaining to export of minerals to Bangladesh between April 2014 and March 2016. However, cross verification with the records of Director of Mineral Resources (DMR) revealed that during the same period, 2.58 lakh MT of coal was exported to Bangladesh through the mining check gate located at Borsora. Through the Divisional Mining Officer (DMO), Williamnagar, the CAG observed, 0.82 lakhs MT of coal was exported to Bangladesh through three mining check gates, i.e. Gasuapara, Dalu and Baghmara check gates, between April 2014 and May 2015 and no coal export was recorded thereafter till March 2016. However, the CAG cross-checked the records of three Land Custom Stations (LCS) at the same locations and revealed that during the period from April 2014 to March 2016, 2.16 lakh MT of coal was exported to Bangladesh. Laxity in cross-verification by the Mining Department on the Mining Check gates with that of the LCS, led to under-reporting of export of 5.50 lakh MT of coal to Bangladesh by the Mining check gates. This resulted in short realisation of royalty amounting to Rs 37.13 crore on which penalty of Rs 9.28 crore was additionally leviable from exporters. “The Government may establish a mechanism to obtain information periodically from Customs Department, Government of India so that it may act as an effective internal control to keep instances of under-reporting in check,” the CAG report stated. The case was reported to the Mining & Geology Department, government of Meghalaya between August 2016 and May 2017 and reminded in July 2017 and January 2018 and the reply is awaited. |
