HITO alleges coal trucks plying without GPS tag

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 6, 2022

The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) on Wednesday alleged that many trucks continue to ply illegally without providing their registration number along with GPS tag number for transportation of coal.

This came after the HITO had followed the trucks, which mostly are without number plates, unloading coal at a depo in Byrnihat, Ri Bhoi District.

Speaking to reporters, HITO president Donbok Dkhar said they had also taken video clippings of hundreds of such trucks while they were unloading the illegal coal at the depo.

He said yet the state government through the chief minister Conrad K Sangma as well as deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong had claimed that there is no illegal transportation of coal and that the trucks which are plying on the roads have papers.

“Therefore, if these trucks have got challans to transport the coal which according to us is illegal, please give the names of those who have been issued with challans and the registration numbers of the trucks,” Dkhar said.

The HITO president further demanded the state government to clarify on the matter since a letter of the Directorate of Mineral Resources (DMR) had clearly stated that submission of truck registration number along with GPS tag number is needed for transportation of the coal auctioned by Coal India Limited (CIL).

He said the letter issued by Director of Mineral Resources David D Sangma to six persons on September 9, 2021 had stated, “In inviting a reference to the subject cited above and in compliance to NGT committee order dated December 10, 2020 which directs that no new challans be issued unless installation of centralized server, uploading of transport permit/challans and tracking of coal laden trucks through GPS and RIFD tags are in place, you are hereby directed to submit truck registration number along with GPS tag number against each truck for transportation of the coal auctioned by Coal India Limited.”

Dkhar said that the organization had earlier conducted checking and detained 18 illegal coal trucks but the police had failed to register the FIR filed against such trucks.

“Instead police told us that we have no authority to check and detain trucks but my question to the government is why the authorities concerned like DMR and others failed to take action against such illegalities,” he added.

Stating that they have completely lost faith in the state government, the HITO president said, “If the high level  can facilitate illegal transportation of coal, we urge the people who are depending their livelihood from this activity to start plying their coal trucks on the road as they also have the right to equality and right to livelihood as per Article 14 and Article 21 of the Indian constitution.”

“We urge the people that if the government itself is breaking the law and is allowing illegal transportation of coal, they should also continue with their livelihood activities without entry with the high level as that money will go to the pockets of the politicians and political parties,” he said while assuring to extend full support to such people.

“Notwithstanding the statement of the deputy chief minister not to listen to Tom, Dick and Harry but we also urge the people not to listen to this government which is breaking the law. If we are Tom, Dick and Harry, then they (people in the government) are also a group of pigs,” he said.

Meanwhile, the HITP urged the Meghalaya High Court to intervene into the matter to ensure illegal transportation of coal is put to a stop in the state.