SHILLONG, Jan 12: An organisation called A’chik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM) has petitioned the chief secretary complaining against the commissioner of Transport, the Department of Mining and Geology and the deputy commissioner of South Garo Hills for illegally allowing an Assam-based firm and others to export and transport coal from Nongal Jadigittim area of the district.
AHAM president Georgeprince Ch. Momin said in the petition that the undersecretary to the Mining and Geology Department had on December 1, 2021, allowed Jai Maa Coal Private Limited of Guwahati’s Beltola area to export and transport coal originating from outside the state through Gasuapara land customs station to Bangladesh.
On March 25, 2021, the DC of the South Garo Hills district also permitted Maruti Fuel based in Assam’s Dudhnoi to transport coal through the district and through Baghmara town en route to Gasuapara, Momin said.
The AHAM president further alleged that on December 1, 2021, the Director of Mineral Resources issued a challan to Babul S. Marak, the successful bidder in the coal auction to lift the coal lying at South Garo Hills district’s Rongding Awe Dangsa Awe, Rongsa Awe Gare Gittima and Areggittim.
The NGO requested the chief secretary to conduct a spot enquiry and punish the guilty officers according to the law and take steps to stop these illegal activities. It threatened to go to court or the National Green Tribunal if the government fails to stop the illegalities and corruption on display in broad daylight”.
According to Momin, there is no checking of the trucks and quantity of coal that is being transported from outside the state. There are no records of the number of trucks transporting coal and the total quantity of coal coming from outside Meghalaya as there is no system in place to do so.
“This has facilitated the ongoing illegal mining activities and illegal transportation of coal from Meghalaya,” he said.
The Shillong Times tried in vain to contact officials of the Mining and Geology Department.
