In the light of the huge quantum of coal exported between December 14, 2021 and May 25, 2022 by Jai Maa Coal Private Limited of Beltola, Guwahati to Bangladesh through the Gasuapara Land Customs Station (LCS) in Garo Hills, the Meghalaya High Court has sought more documentary evidence.
During today’s hearing of a PIL filed by Champer M. Sangma regarding a coal export scam committed by Jai Maa Coal Private Limited through use of alleged fake e-way bills, the division bench of the High Court sought documents from both from the Gasuapara LCS authorities and from Jai Maa to prove the origin of the coal exported by Jai Maa during the period through Gasuapara LCS.
The High Court also sought verification by the Assam government to indicate whether it was possible for Jai Maa to purchase such a quantity of coal from the alleged open market in Beltola, Assam; and, whether, in fact, it was so done.
“Both the State of Assam and the Gasuapara LCS authorities should respond to the above queries and produce the best documents in such regard in their possession,” the court said.
In the meantime, the High Court said that no coal should be allowed to be exported from any place in Meghalaya to Bangladesh without both the State authorities and the relevant LCS authorities being satisfied as to the origin of the mineral and retaining copies of the documents that may be produced by the intending exporter as to the origin of such material.
Earlier, documents on record showed that between December 14, 2021 and May 25, 2022, a total of 1,74,725 metric tons of coal was exported by Jai Maa Coal Private Limited to Bangladesh through the Gasuapara LCS.
There is a letter on record issued by the Mining and Geology Department of the Government of Meghalaya granting permission to Jai Maa for export of coal “originating from outside the State” through Gasuapara LCS. This permission was for a period of one month from the date of issuance of the letter.
For reasons not immediately clear, the Deputy Commissioner, South Garo Hills modified the government order to allow transportation from December 7, 2021 to January 7, 2022. However, what is important is that the first condition in the Deputy Commissioner’s order of December 7, 2021 stipulated that the vehicles carrying the coal “should possess the valid documents from the originating State as well as other valid documents…” The order was marked also to the Superintendent of Customs, in-charge of Gasuapara LCS.
On a query from the High Court as to what documents are inspected by the officials at the Gasuapara LCS before permitting coal to be exported to Bangladesh, the Customs authorities informed that permission from the State government and e-way bills produced by the exporter are the documents which ought to be looked at.
However, it was evident from the order of December 7, 2021 passed by the Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills that valid documents from the originating State had to be produced as a condition before the export of coal is permitted.
