Shillong, ,Feb 15: Activist Tennydard M Marak wanted action against the officials of Directorate of Mineral Resources and transport department for facilitating transportation of coal in West Khasi Hills
Marak said in a statement that it is an admitted fact that illegal mining and illegal transportation of coal is going on without any kind of checks and therefore resulting huge loss and injury to the state which the state government, High Court of Meghalaya and others are fully aware of the fact but for vested interest no action is initiated.
“It has become necessary to initiate legal action against the DMR Officials and the Transport officials engaged in the whole process at the checkpoints and check gates to find out their total disproportionate income from sources as this will definitely expose their true nature of functioning by holding an ED departmental enquiry/check as well as register a case of not exercising their duty in the true sense under proper section of law as immediately as possible,” he said.
He said that according to Justice (Retied) BP Katakey, who was appointed by the Meghalaya High Court to recommend measures for compliance with Supreme Court and NGT directives, the state government had informed the Supreme Court before the ban on coal mining, there was 32 lakh metric tonnes of coal.
“The government is only talking about 14 lakh metric tonnes of coal and not 32 32 and hence there is a need to find out about the remaining 18 lakh metric tonnes of coal. Therefore, it is quite evident that coal has been transported out without challan and hence, there is the missing report of 18 Lakh metric tonnes,” Marak said.
The activist had on January 30, filed an FIR with the in-charge, Athiabari/ Porlakait Police Out Post against transportation of coal without any challans through the checkpoint.
“Token No. is issued on payment of a huge amount of money. My FIR has been immediately forwarded to RiangdoPolice Station for necessary action. But no positive action is initiated and because of negligence of the Police, there was an accident of coal laden truck on 12th February, 2024 after filing of the FIR dated 30/01/2024 near Athiabari Police Station with excessive load of coal about 1 km from the Athiabari out post,” he added.
Photo caption:
Full text of the activist
Illegal Overloaded Transportation of Coal and allied goods without proper weighing due to insufficient number of weighbridges and weigh-Pads causing huge loss of revenue to the state exchequer.
The final order dated 23/08/2023 passed in PIL No. 1 of 2022 with MC (PIL) No. 1 of 2022 in (Tennydard M. Marak -VS- State of Meghalaya & Others) by the Hon’ble Meghalaya High Courts reveals the report filed by on behalf of the State, the Secretary to the Transport Department indicates that there are at present 28 weighbridges at checkpoints notified by the state Government and such weighbridges are operational.
The report further reveals out of the 28 weighbridges, 24 are under the control of the Transport Department and 4 weighbridges have been set up by the Mining and Geology Department. ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
In addition, the Transport Department has placed orders for the Six Weigh-Pads out of which two have been received. One of the Weighing Pads has been installed at Dalu and the other is being installed at Umtyrnga in Ri-Bhoi.
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The several points where the Weighbridges and Weigh-Pads are installed should be monitored by CCTV so that the weights indicated cannot be tempered with or overweight goods vehicles allowed to pass on extraneous considerations.
In particular, not only should the checkpoints check for the weights in vehicles carrying minerals, but the origin and source of the minerals should also be looked into.
It is heartening to note that the state intends to engage the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong for a blueprint to ensure that checkpoints may be put up at strategic places to completely arrest the plying of overladen goods vehicles.
In view of the report and in the hope that adequate steps will now be taken to check the menace that the Petitioner complain of, …………………………………….
But it seems that the concerned authorities are not giving any cognizance to the courts instructions and not complying any of the instructions. Recently, I visited the check point of Dalu, Chaypani and to my utter surprise I have seen the weighbridge at Dalu, Chaypani but the Weighbridge is lying in abandoned condition. I had lodged an FIR with the Barengapara Police Station, Dalu on 06/02/2024 and informed the Officer-in-Charge about the condition of the Weighbridge at Dalu, Chaypani and about no sign of Weigh-Pads at Khilapara (near Zero point, Bangladesh Border) having a distance from Weighbridge at Dalu, Chaypani to Khilapara (near Zero point, Bangladesh border) is about 1 KM. Interestingly, I have come across a Signboard hanging at the extreme end at Khilapara (near Zero point, Bangladesh border) but there is no sign of any weigh-Pads anywhere nearby and the same is hanging there only to eye wash and misguide the public.
Photographs of the Signboard of Integrated Smart Check Gate at Khilapara (near Zero-point, Bangladesh border) Annexure – A , Weighbridge in abandoned condition, Annexure – B , Un-loaded Trucks after delivering Boulders at Bangladesh Annexure – C ,
Moreover, I have also lodged an FIR on 30/01/2024 to the In-Charge, Athiabari/ Porlakait Police Out Post against transportation of Coal without any Challan and a Token No. on Mobile is all you need to pass the check point and the Token No. is issued on payment of huge amount of money. My FIR has been immediately forwarded to Riangdoh Police Station for necessary action.
Photographs of the lined up loaded Coal Trucks, Annexure – D, Token Number on the Mobile Screen instead of Challan Annexure -E,
But no positive action is initiated and because of negligence of the Police, there was an accident of Coal laden truck on 12th February, 2024 after filing of the FIR dated 30/01/2024 near Athiabari Police Station with excessive load of coal about 1 km from the Athiabari out post.
The Photographs of the Truck, Laborers engaged loading the truck the coal from the ground and a full loaded truck covered after crossing before reaching Hahim Bazar. Riangdoh Police Station is annexed as Annexure – F, G and H respectively.
Although the matter has been brought to the notice of the Police by filing FIRs dated 30/01/2024 and 6/2/2024 but unfortunately it is not known whether any action is initiated by them. The claim made by the Secretary report to the Transport Department has no foot to stand and all that is placed is to save their skin and nothing else.
Coal is the most important source of income of the state of Meghalaya but the same has been misused by the authorities concerned for their vested interest, which is very unfortunate. This is well accepted and an open secret now.
So, it is evident from the above is that whatever is reported is only in papers and files to avoid but in actual there is no weigh pads installed in the said Check Point at Dalu, Chaypani but only one Signboard is hanging at Zero Point for show only.
As a result, Meghalaya has been ranked among the five poorest states in India in the “Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) : A progress Review 2023” Report released by Niti Aayog on July 17, 2023.”
The Chief Minster of Meghalaya Shri Conrad Sangma admits Niti Aayog ranking, says Govt. taking steps to improve situation. The CM also said that though the state has a lot of challenges, there are areas where the government has achieved success. He also admitted that he has to accept the challenges and the Govt. lagging behind.
It is an admitted fact that illegal mining and illegal transportation of coal is going on without any kind of checks and therefore resulting huge loss and injury to the state which the Government of Meghalaya, the Court of Meghalaya and everyone is fully aware of the fact but for vested interest no action is initiated.
It is therefore has become necessary to initiate legal action against the DMR Officials and the Transport officials engaged in the whole process at the Check points and check gates to find out their total disproportionate income from out-sources will definitely expose their true nature of functioning by holding an ED departmental enquiry/check as well as register a case of not exercising their duty in the true sense under proper section of law as immediately as possible. I am enclosing the Photographs collected during my recent visit in that area is enclosed for your ready reference.
Justice (Retied) B.P. Katakey, who was appointed by the Meghalaya High Court to recommend measures for compliance with Supreme Court and NGT directives. According to Katakey, the State Government had informed the Supreme Court before the ban on coal mining was 32 Lakh Metric Tonnes of Coal. The Government is only talking about 14 lakh metric tonnes of Coal and not 32 32 and hence there is a need to find out about the remaining 18 lakh metric tonnes of Coal. Therefore, it is quite evident that coal has been transported out without challan and hence, there is the missing report of 18 Lakh Metric tonnes.
(Tennydard M. Marak)
