Shillong, Feb 5: One Kingstone Bolwari, a resident of Laitumkhrah, Shillong has lodged an FIR against the selling of duplicate and fake challan in and around Shahlang, West Khasi Hills District and Dainadubi, North Garo Hills District for transportation of “unclaimed coal.”
In the complaint filed with the Sadar police station, Bolwari alleged that between January 12 and 16, one Kyrshan of Nongstoiñ, West Khasi Hills District and Deovolenty Pohthmi alias Kheinduh, of Mawlai, East Khasi hills District, had been illegally selling the duplicate and fake Challan for transportation of coal related to the large quantity of “unclaimed coal” lying at Pathalgittim, Rongding Awe, Dangsa Awe, Rongsa Awe, Garegittim, Agrenggittim and Jadiggitim of South Garo Hills District.
He said that the purpose of issuing challan to the concerned successful bidder or the concerned coal transporter is to generate the revenue for the Government of Meghalaya and through challan, the transporter is paying their respective royalty to the Government.
“But, it is surprising to know that the above mentioned persons and their group are illegally doing such malpractice of corruption and indulging in illegal business by selling the fake and duplicate Challan for their personal monetary benefit,†Bolwari said while strongly demanding that such illegal business should be immediately stopped and all the persons involved should be booked as per the provision of law.
The FIR said that as per Supreme Court order dated 03.07.2019, the court has directed the clear guideline to be followed with regards to the transportation of unclaimed coal as well as with regards to the transporting of the auctioned coal which is about 32 lakh MT.
It said the order has clearly mentioned that the concerned transporter have to pay the royalty to the state government and in this respect the proper Challan should be issued from the concerned department i.e., the Director of Mineral Resources
“…it is surprising to learn that the above mentioned persons are distributing the fake Challan in the name of the successful bidder, George S. Marak who was issued the lifting order or allowed to transport the Coal from Pathalgittim, Rongding Awe, Dangsa Awe, Rongsa Awe, Garegittim, Agrenggittim and Jadiggitim of South Garo Hills District, Meghalaya.â€
The complainant also requested the police to verify the challan which has been sold by the accused as it clear violation of rules and is against the order of the Supreme Court and provisions of the Mines and Mineral Resources Act, 1957.
According to him, the delay in lodging the FIR is because he was trying to verify and study the originality of the challan.
There is some delay in lodging the instant FIR as the complainant was trying to verify and study the originality of the above mentioned Challan ad moreover the Complainant came to know about the illegal selling of fake Challan only after 15 days and after receiving the information of the event, the complainant went from Shillong to Dainadubi to verify the same and to get more information from the people who are involved in transporting the Coal.