Coke transportation continues in Meghalaya amid COVID-19 restrictions
Speaking to The Northeast Today (TNT), EKH Superintendent of Police S Nongtnger said that they have registered a case at Lumdiengjri Police Station and informed that the truck was on its way to Assam from Shallang in West Khasi Hills.
A coke-laden truck overturned at Lummawbah in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills (EKH) district on Monday morning.
Speaking to The Northeast Today (TNT), EKH Superintendent of Police S Nongtnger said that they have registered a case at Lumdiengjri Police Station and informed that the truck was on its way to Assam from Shallang in West Khasi Hills.
“We have registered a case since the truck was transporting a non-essential item (coke). The driver has been arrested,” Nongtnger said.
Even though the incident occurred after the State Government announced a ten-day restriction period because of the COVID-19 situation, it also serves as proof that coke transportation is still an ongoing affair in Meghalaya.
It may be mentioned that Shallang is a hotbed of coke factories with as many as over 20 factories allegedly operating illegally.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma had during the budget session in March stated that all illegal coke factories were closed.
The government had detected 21 coke factories out of which four are legal, and 17 are illegal. Sangma further informed that out of the 17 illegal coke factories, 10 received single-window clearances and are awaiting Consent to Establish (CTE) and Consent to Operate (CTO) under the Air & Water Act.
The CM had claimed that the coal used in the legal factories was ‘legally’ transported from Assam and West Bengal and through coal auctions by the State Government.
But with restrictions in place given the COVID situation, the transportation of the raw material (coal), which falls under non-essential services, has left citizens questioning the role of the Home Department and the Transport Department on whether such activities result from complacency or because of a few individuals with “vested interests.”
(Edited by Andre Kongri and Iban Mawrie)
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