A fresh complaint has revealed how Nagaland’s name is being exploited in an ongoing illegal coal mining operation involving Goreng, West Khasi Hills, and South Garo Hills. According to a letter written by Krishan Kumar to Justice (retired) BP Katakey, the coal being illegally mined in Meghalaya is being falsely passed off as originating from Nagaland to facilitate its export to Bangladesh. This was reported by The Shillong Times.
The complaint, filed on December 28, outlines how freshly mined coal from Goreng is being misrepresented as coal from Nagaland. This coal is then stored at the Rongsa Awe coal depot in South Garo Hills, where it is falsely claimed to be sourced from Nagaland and intended for export through the Gasuapara Land Custom Station (LCS) to Bangladesh. The complainant pointed out that fake invoices are being used to legitimize this illegal operation.
One of the individuals allegedly behind this illegal scheme, Katman T Sangma, was issued a transportation order by the Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills on December 20, 2024, for the export of 5,000 tonnes of coal. However, the actual quantity of coal present at the Rongsa Awe depot is only around 300-400 tonnes, far less than the 5,000 tonnes stated in the transportation order. The complainant highlighted that this discrepancy was not cross-checked by the concerned departments in Meghalaya, raising questions about the integrity of the process.
Photographs and videos documenting the coal stock at the depot, along with GPS coordinates, have been attached to the complaint to substantiate the claims. Kumar has called on Justice Katakey to conduct a surprise visit to the depot for physical verification of the coal stock.
The complainant has also referenced similar complaints filed by locals, including Rajen Ch Sangma and Mingran T Sangma, from South Garo Hills and West Khasi Hills, who have raised concerns about the rampant illegal rat-hole mining in the region. Their complaints, which include photographic and video evidence, highlight the environmental damage, revenue loss, and the negative impact on local communities caused by this unlawful mining activity.