In a face-saving strategy following media report of illegal transportation of coals, the Meghalaya government today issued detailed guidelines for the transportation of seized coals in the State from various districts towards Assam.
Procedure has been laid down to allow transportation of seized coal after its disposal through public auction by the concerned authority.
As per the procedure, consignment carrying auctioned coal shall be allowed for transportation only with the High Security Mineral Transport Challan containing hologram and fugitive ink to be issued by the Directorate of Mineral Resources.
The truck number, route and destination shall be indicated in MTC and consignor should use only route mentioned in the Mineral Transport Challan.
The DMR shall intimate the issuance of Mineral Transport Challans to concerned Superintendent of Police and Commissioner of Transport along with route of transportation and destination,
The Mineral Transport Challan shall be stamped as ‘Auctioned Coal’ with internal secret marking;
The Superintendent of Police shall ensure checking of vehicles by police on National Highways and roads to detect illegal coal transportation within their jurisdiction;
The concerned Deputy Commissioner shall station a joint team consisting of police, DMR officials and Transport Department at the junction of weighbridge-cum-check gates of Transport Department or DMR check gates to divert all the goods laden trucks including coal laden trucks from main road towards weighbridge-cum-chec kgate.
As per the procedure, a joint team shall check all the goods carrying trucks for necessary documents and the joint team shall detect coal laden trucks without valid Mineral Transport Challan and seize the vehicle, and shall register the case under the Section 21 of Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957.
The Superintendent of Police concerned will have to depute at least two police personnel to each weighbridge-cum-check gate in his jurisdiction to detect vehicles carrying coal illegally;
The Mines Royalty Inspector (MRI)/Assistant Mines Royalty Inspector of the DMR check gate/Transport Department’s weighbridge-cum-check gates with the assistance of police shall inspect all the goods carrying trucks at the check gate to detect coal laden trucks.
The MRI or Assistant Mines Royalty Inspector shall physically inspect coal trucks, verily Mineral Transport Challan and place his seal and signature on the challan to prevent multiple use.
The MRI or Assistant Mines Royalty Inspector and Police at check gate shall seize the trucks carrying coal illegally and case shall be registered under Section 21 of MMDR Act, 1957.
The MRI or Assistant Mines Royalty Inspector shall maintain the register on details of coal trucks passed through the checkgate and monthly statement shall be sent to the DMR for reconciliation and ensure video recording of all consignment of coal passed through check gate and footage shall be stored for at least one year.
The Transport Department shall ensure that trucks are not carrying coal in excess of quantity permitted by Mining and Geology Department vide Notification dated 10.07.2020 and shall take necessary action in respect of over loaded trucks.
The Transport Department shall ensure that CCTV cameras installed at weighbridge are functioning and shall share the CCTV footage with DMR every month and the DMR shall submit a report on transportation of auctioned coal indicating number of challans issued, route and destination to the government;
The Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of concerned District shall ensure that no illegal transportation of coal takes place in the of transporting the auctioned coal within their respective jurisdiction.
