Illegal charcoal supply to ferro-alloy units
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Mait Shaphrang Movement (MSM) is contemplating to file a writ petition in the Shillong Bench of the Gauhati High Court if the State Government failed to act on the recommendations of the Expert Committee which was constituted to study the problem of deforestation due to the increasing demand for charcoal required by the ferro-alloy units in Meghalaya.
“There is a big question mark on whether the Government would act on the recommendations of the Committee. We have seen that many committees had been constituted in the past by the Government. But no one knows whether the Government has initiated any action on the recommendations made by those committees, ” MSM chairman Michael Syiem told reporters after the first meeting of the Expert Committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary PBO Warjri on Thursday.
Since Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma is in charge of the Industries department and is also Chairman of the Single Window Agency, Syiem said it would be interesting to see whether the Chief Minister is really ready to take a tough decision which would go against the interests of the industrialists who are keen to set up ferro-alloy units in the State.
Despite banning the use of locally-produced charcoal in these industrial units, the Government is also continuing to give permission for setting up of new ferro alloy industries in the State, the MSM chairman alleged.
“Personally, I am not too sure whether the Government is really committed to putting a stop to the production of charcoal which has led to massive deforestation,” Syiem said.
Meanwhile, he informed that the Forest department officials had admitted that there was rampant illegal supply of locally-produced charcoal to ferro-alloy industries operating in the State despite the ban.
On several occasions, the department had seized trucks loaded with charcoal meant for delivery to the ferro alloy industries at Byrnihat, he said, while adding that in some months the department seizes as many as 100 trucks loaded with locally-produced charcoal.
“The Forest officials admitted that they were unable to keep a check on the illegal supply of charcoal to the industries due to shortage of manpower,” Syiem said.
The MSM chairman also claimed that these industries are supposed to import charcoal either from Tamil Nadu or Kerala.
“To import charcoal, these industries enjoy transport subsidies from both the Centre and State Governments,” he claimed.
‘Zero tolerance against illegal toll collection’
With the onset of winter the illegal toll collection business along NH-62 is expected to resurface once again considering the increased demand for charcoal in different parts of the State.
The East Garo Hills district administration, where the major chunk of illegal toll gates were allegedly operating last year, have this time decided to strictly implement the zero tolerance policy towards illegal toll gate operators.
Talking to The Shillong Times here on Thursday, East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi said, “Zero tolerance will be adopted towards any one who will illegally operate toll gates along NH-62”.
According to Bakshi, truck associations have been asked to lodge complaints if they come across any illegal toll gates along NH-62.
Last year there was a lot of hue and cry when truckers alleged that many illegal toll gates were operating along the highway.
A House Committee was also formed to probe the allegations of illegal collection of money from various toll gates.
The House Committee, comprising of different party legislators is likely to submit its report in March next year.
The district administration had even instituted a magisterial inquiry asking the complainants to record their statements.
However, no one turned up for the hearing which rendered the inquiry ineffective.
Meanwhile, the District Administration is claiming that not even a single illegal toll gate is currently operating along NH-62 following stringent action taken last year.
