‘Give us coal challan’

SHILLONG, OCT 20: Coal miners in Meghalaya on Monday demanded that the they be allowed to transport extracted coal for exporting to neigbouring Bangladesh as permitted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which had imposed a ban on coal mining in the state.

The decision was taken after a series of meetings of the delegation of the State Co-ordination Committee of Coal Owners, Miners & Dealers Forum (SCCCMDF) held with the different coal associations of Sylhet d in Bangladesh recently

“We demand the government issue us coal challan or the transit coal permit as the first instalment payment for transportation of the extracted coal as instructed by the NGT has been paid both for domestic as well as exporting of coal to the neighbouring Bangladesh, at the earliest,” SCCCMDF general secretary M Kharkongor said here.

Kharkongor informed the meetings was held with Sylhet Coal Importers Group, the Sunamganj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tahirpur Coal Importers Group and the Sylhet Chamber of Commerce.

“A petition on this regard was also submitted to the chairman of the newly constituted committee by the NGT, KS Kropha, who is the additional chief secretary,” Kharkongor informed.

Kharkongor said the forum has also sought intervention of chief minister Mukul Sangma in this issue.

The SCCCOMDF is now waiting for response from the newly constituted committee and the state government on its demand.-By Our Reporter