The Hynniewtrep Integrated Territorial Organization (HITO) has alleged that many trucks continue to ply illegally, without providing their registration number and GPS tag number while transporting coal.

This followed the HITO’s observation of the trucks, the majority of which lacked licence plates, when they unloaded coal at a depo in Byrnihat, Ri Bhoi District.

Speaking to mediapersons, the HITO President – Donbok Dkhar asserted that they have recorded videos of hundreds of these vehicles, while they were dumping the illicit coal at the depo.

“Yet the Meghalaya CM – Conrad Sangma and Deputy CM – Prestone Tynsong claimed that there is no unlawful transportation of coal and that the trucks which are plying on the roads have valid documents,” – stated Dkhar.

Therefore, the HITO has asked the state government to provide the names of people who were issued challans alongwith the registration numbers of the vehicles.

The HITO president further demanded that the state government should provide clarification on the matter; since a letter from the Directorate of Mineral Resources (DMR) clearly indicated that submission of a truck registration number along with a GPS tag number is required for transportation of coal purchased at auction by Coal India Limited (CIL).

Dkhar further claimed that although the organization had previously checked and detained 18 illicit coal trucks, the police had neglected to record the FIR that had been filed against them.