Shillong, Jan 19: The 33 coal-laden trucks ferrying coal from Bhutan via Meghalaya have been allowed to transit to Bangladesh on Saturday.

An official in the Meghalaya government said that the confusion that arose following an order of Supreme Court banning transportation of extracted coal in Meghalaya has been resolved after which Customs people at the Dawki check post allowed the coal-laden trucks to transit to Bangladesh.

The trucks were stopped at Dawki check post in West Jaiñtia Hills district bordering Bangladesh on January 15, after the Supreme Court on that day (January 15) banned transportation of extracted coal in Meghalaya due to alleged failure of the state government to curb illegal mining in the state. The ban will continue till the next hearing fixed on February 19.

Coal traders have been exporting coal from Bhutan to Bangladesh via India’s international border as per the South Asian Preferential Trade Arrangement.

Dawki-Tamabil and Dalu-Nakugaon land customs stations were notified as dedicated routes for Bangladesh-Bhutan trans-shipment export-import trade.

Earlier, Meghalaya International Exporters’ Chamber of Commerce secretary, D. Khonglah had pleaded that coal-laden trucks from Bhutan should be allowed for transit and the Supreme Court’s order does not apply to a third country export.