The Meghalaya Joint Action Committee (MJAC), comprising the Association of Meghalaya Traders and Transporters, Jaintia Hills Truck Owners Association and All Jaintia Hills Cement and Clinker Association, today urged the Chief Minister to take action against illegal transportation of coal and limestone to industrial areas in East Jaintia Hills.
Enrico Pasi, general secretary of the MJAC, said that absence of revenue checkpoints or checkgates en-route to cement factories supplying raw materials to the factories have given huge undue benefits to those industrial units.
“Coal and limestone supplied by local suppliers to cement factories are not taxed nor are any accounts kept by any government authorities. On top of that, there is no concession on the cost of cement sold within the state of Meghalaya – cement produced in Jaintia Hills is sold at a cheaper rate in Assam than in Khliehriat,” Pasi said.
Revenue leakage will only lead to deteriorating living conditions and further lack of proper infrastructure including basic healthcare and education, he added.
“The industrialists seldom visit East Jaintia Hills but are interested only in its natural wealth. The day our state becomes the have-nots in terms of minerals and other natural resources, they won’t even know where Shillong is, leave aside East Jaintia Hills district,” Pasi said.
MJAC wants the government to end its supposed favouritism of cement factories in EJH and tax the minerals supplied to them properly. If such revenue streams are tapped, the state would be able to construct at least 100km of good roads every year in the district, Pasi added.
