JOWAI, Feb 23: Challans issued to mining lease holders in West Jaintia Hills are allegedly being misused for personal gains.
Sources have informed that such lease holders from Nongtalang and Satapator areas are reportedly transferring their challans to entities which indulge in illegal limestone mining.
“There are very few mining lease holders in the area and most of them are close to politicians,” sources alleged.
“Those that failed to obtained mining lease are getting the help of some mining lease holders who transfer their transport challans for transporting extracted limestone to Bangladesh via Tamabil at higher rates,” they said.
Earlier, the Division Forest Officer of West Jaintia Hills had served notices to all mining lease holders sternly warning them against illegal practices such as misuse of challan for transportation of limestone.
Speaking about penalties, the DFO mentioned that violation of Section 4(1) of MMDR Act 1957 by illegally mining outside the leased area is punishable by imprisonment up to five years and with fine of Rs 5 lakh per hectare of the area, adding that in case of continuing contraventions additional fine of Rs 50,000 per day would be levied on the lease holder.
