Coal smuggling through Churaibari brews resentment

In spite of the prohibition marred by the Supreme Court on Meghalaya based coal, coal laden trucks all the way from Meghalaya are reportedly entering the state everyday through the Churaibari Check-post in an illegitimate attempt to meet the crying need of coal in the Brick and tea industries.

Though the state started importing coal from the neighbouring Bangladesh recently— below standard quality and higher rates has distracted the local traders from using the internationally imported fuel.

It is learnt from the local sources that since the ban was imposed coal trucks became an unseen entity. But since last few months once again the traffic of coal laden trucks is being witnessed in the Churaibari check-post.

“Every day four to five such vehicles enter the state. And there is no inch of doubt, the officials posted here to take account on the illegal practices are somehow made involved in this illegitimate trade,” said a source associated with the Check post.

An official of the check-post however responded, every day a long queue of vehicles pass through this check-post. We have to look after the tax related queries, documentation and all other aspects of the goods laden trucks.

“It is next impossible to have personal cross checking on each of the vehicles that is set to enter the state,” an official of the check-post claimed.  It is true that allegations of bribery rose several occasions but with constraints sufficient staffs nothing can be changed as per expectations, he added.

Meanwhile, larger section of the coal smuggled from Meghalaya reportedly fills the coffers of brick kiln owners and the rest is fetched by the tea garden owners of the state.

As it is the peak season for brick industry—the brick-kilns are not allowed to douse the light and to do so fuel—coal is the most needed material. On the other hand, tea gardens also need the coal for withering and drying the raw leaves.

According to a brick kiln owner, “Buying illegal coal is nothing but a fight for existence”. He explained, “After Meghalaya stopped exporting coal, we become dependent on the Indonesian coal that is imported through Bangladesh. But the poor quality of the coal left us with no other way but to obtain coal from black marketers.”

In the condition anonymity the middle aged businessman also said that whether the government gives us a fair opportunity to buy quality coal from the market, no one of their fraternity would depend on the black market.