Illegal mining and transportation of coal from Meghalaya are continuing through Kamrup district of lower Assam despite a ban on such activities by the Supreme Court till February 19.
After 15 miners were trapped in a rat hole mine at Ksan village in East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya, the Supreme Court bench of Justice A.I. Sikri and Justice S. Abdul Nazeer refused to grant rights to the transportation of coal and asked the Meghalaya government to prevent such activities.
Sources said the illegally transported coal in Meghalaya are stockpiled at a few depots in Thulukhola near Riangdo and Nongstain in West Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya along the Assam-Meghalaya border.
Sources said the rackets use informers, who inform the racketeers about the security vigil along National Highway 37 in Kamrup and Goalpara districts of Assam.
When these informers give a “go ahead” signal, fleets of coal laden trucks come here and the consignment is stored illegally, which will be shown as old stock and papers are issued for transportation towards other states.
