AHAM seeks action against govt officials involved in illegal transportation of coal

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJanuary 12, 2022

The A.chik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM) has demanded action against government officers for allegedly allowing transportation of illegal coal in South Garo Hills district.

In a complaint submitted to the Chief Secretary Rebecca V Suchiang on Tuesday, AHAM chief Georgeprince Ch Momin alleged that the officers of the department of Commissioner of Transport, Mining & Geology and Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills for illegally allowing M/S Jaimaa Coal Private Limited of Beltola Guwahati, Assam  and others to export/transport the coal from Nongal ‘ Jadigittim  area of South Garo Hills.

He also alleged that illegal transportation and illegal mining of coal is going rampant with the help of the vested personnel in authority intertwined with the legislators in power projecting the corruption as being legalised-as all of them are getting their share from this illegal coal transportation and from illegal coal mining.

“Therefore…(we) humbly request your goodself to take up the matter with the concerned authority and conduct the spot enquiry/verification and accordingly punish the guilty officers as per the law and to take step to stop all these illegal activities that going on in the state…,” Momin stated in the letter.

He further warned, “…failing which, the undersigned would go to the judiciary, media and the concerned authority (National Green Tribunal) to cease the illegal corruption on display in a broad daylight.”

Further substantiating his claims, Momin said on December 1, 2021 the Under Secretary of the Mining & Geology Department, has allowed  M/S Jai Maa Coal Private  Limited of Beltola, Guwahati, Assam to export and transport the coal from coal originating  from outside the state through Gasuapara Land custom Station to Bangladesh.

“However to our dismay, the stated company is not transporting the coal originating from Assam or from outside the state of Meghalaya but they are transporting the illegal coal from the state of Meghalaya motivating a lot people to indulge in illegal and unscientific mining in the state in general and in South Garo Hills in particular to which the undersigned on behalf of the organisation vehemently object the illegal act committed by company,” the AHAM president said while demanding cancellation of the order at the earliest.

Stating that the Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills on March 25, 2021 had also allowed and permitted M/S Maruti Fuel Dudnoi Assam Coal Exporter to transport the coal laden Truck to pass through the district and Baghmara town enroute to Gasuapara, he however alleged that the company is also transporting illegal coal being mined fresh from the Dangsa Awe,Rongsa Awe Gare Gittima, Areggittim of South Garo Hills and not from outside the state.

“Since, the company has not adhered to its order and has been indulging in illegal activities banned by the NGT, the undersigned immediately demands your anticipation to cancel the order passed by the Deputy Commissioner, South Garo Hills.,” he said.

Furthermore, on December 1, 2021, the Director of Mineral Resources Meghalaya Shillong had declared  Babul S Marak as a successful bidder and duly issued the challan to transport lift the auction coal lying at Rongding Awe Dangsa Awe, Rongsa Awe Gare Gittima, Areggittim of South Garo Hills.

Momin however claimed that there is no coal lying in the said places but the said successful contractor is being allowed by the said department to transport the fresh coal that are being illegally extracted from Rongding Awe Dangsa Awe, Rongsa Awe Gare Gittim, Areggittim of South Garo Hills.

Asserting the need for the government to allow the transportation of coal originating outside the state  through  Tura West Garo Hills enroute to Gasuapara Land custom Station  to Bangladesh instead of South Garo Hills, he however said, “but same is not done and will not done because in West Garo Hills Tura as there is no illegal coal mining and the officers and minister who are hand in glove with illegal coal mining and illegal transportation of coal will suffer a huge lost from earning from the illegal coal mining and transportation.”

“There is no checking of the number of truck and quantity of coal that are transporting from outside the state, no record of daily number of truck transporting coal and the total quantity of coal or total MT of coal coming from outside the state of Meghalaya as the system is not in place to check the total number of truck which gives a scope to carry out the illegal mining activities and illegal transportation of coal from the state of Meghalaya,” he stated.