SHILLONG:
BJP’s Bernard N Marak, MDC from Tura, on January 5, brought attention to the alleged illegal coal transportation in South Garo Hills, seeking intervention from DGP LR Bishnoi.
Marak filed an FIR at Nongalbibra police station and, in a letter to the DGP, expressed concern, stating, “The inaction by the police raises doubts, and I am forwarding my complaint with a copy of the FIR for your reference. Kindly take immediate action and stop all illegal activities related to coal, honouring the Court order.”
Highlighting the gravity of the issue, Marak mentioned, “Overloaded coal trucks, sans proper documents, ply freely at night, evading government records by paying an entry fee of approximately Rs 1,25,000/- per truck. This, without paying royalty tax to ADCs and in violation of the Honorable Supreme Court order dated 03.07.2019, amounts to unjustified exploitation of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India.”
Marak alleged, “Hundreds of trucks are illegally lifting coal from Era Aning and Jadigittim, with illegal dumpings occurring openly, violating the Supreme Court order of 03.07.2019.”
The BJP leader called for an investigation into the matter, asserting, “The attached FIR copy should be probed, as coal was loaded from the mentioned depo at Era Aning and Jadigittim under Nongalbibra Police Station, South Garo Hills, Meghalaya.”