The Ka Bri U Hynñiewtrep Importer and Exporter Association has alleged that only those who are well-connected can get permits required to export boulders to Bangladesh.
An order on May 29 issued by authorities in Pynursla sub-division made it mandatory for exporters to obtain quarry slips, ostensibly to ensure the smooth regulation of border trade activities along the Pynursla-Dawki-Tamabil road.
The quarry slip is to ensure the identification of boulder-laden trucks from designated quarries.
Speaking to reporters today, the association said that quarry slips are being manipulated by the miners’ association whereby the quarry slips are mostly given only to those connected to them while the rest are deprived.
“While we get only one or two trips a week, those in close connection with the miners’ association get quarry slips and trips to Bangladesh almost every day,” association president N Nongrang said.
Those involved in the import-export trade have had to weather all manner of new red tape in the last three years, starting with Covid-related paperwork, parking tokens and now the quarry slip.
He said that after a complaint was filed, the token system was stopped but now the authorities have started with the quarry slip, which is nothing, Nongrang added, but harassment and extortion.
“In fact the boulder exporters need only a challan but now our trucks are held and checked by the miners’ association for the quarry slip, which is at the rate of Rs 400-500 per slip,” he said, adding that the challan rate has also gone up from Rs 2,200 to Rs 4,000 after the quarry slip system was imposed.
