The case against the alleged illegal coal export by Jai Maa Coal Pvt Ltd will be taken up by the Meghalaya High Court tomorrow.
During the hearing, the State authorities are also expected to file their replies before the court.
It may be mentioned that the High Court had on May 25 directed the Directorate of Mineral Resources and Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills not to allow Jai Maa Coal Pvt Ltd to transport any coal through the Land Custom Station at Gasuapara for export to Bangladesh.
It may be mentioned that Maikel T. Sangma, a resident of Gasuapara, had filed a case in the High Court alleging among others that there has been an attempt by Jai Maa Coal Pvt Ltd to export coal illegally without permission or assessment of the coal quantity.
Sangma had on May 20 sent a complaint to Chief Secretary Rebecca V. Suchiang regarding the various illegalities committed by Jai Maa Coal Pvt Ltd. Since the Chief Secretary did not act on his complaint, Sangma moved the High Court seeking its intervention on the matter.
Sangma had stated that the Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills by order dated April 29, 2022 has permitted Jai Maa Coal Pvt Ltd to transport an unspecified amount of coal which is stated to be dumped at Gasuapara.
Further the Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills had written a letter dated April 29, 2022 requesting the Directorate of Mineral Resources to make an assessment of the dumped coal, apart from the other seized coal.
Sangma in his plea before the High Court stated that until complete facts emerge on what basis these permissions have been accorded and assessments done, Jai Maa Coal Pvt Ltd should not be permitted to transport any coal.
Jai Maa Coal Pvt Ltd, a company based in Guwahati, allegedly belongs to one Balwan Soni alias Bhama who has been arrested on February 9 by Assam police over alleged tax fraud. He was recently released.
A Guwahati-based news channel recently carried a report alleging that Bhama had close ties with Meghalaya cabinet minister James Sangma. However, Sangma has denied the charges.
The news channel also reported that Bhama’s wealth from coal export from Meghalaya had jumped from just Rs 3 lakh to over Rs 100 crore in just three years.
The news channel also said that Jai Maa Coal Pvt Ltd has been forging the bills and undervaluing the tax invoices and transporting coal from Meghalaya to Bangladesh through Gasuapara Custom Station through the Baghmara area.
