Boko, Oct 27: An alleged illegal coal transportation network has resurfaced along the Assam-Meghalaya border, with around 30 to 40 coal-laden trucks reportedly waiting near the Athiabari Police Outpost in Meghalaya to cross into Assam.
The trucks were allegedly waiting for nightfall to move across the border. Reports also suggest that between 200 and 300 trucks are lined up in Meghalaya’s Shallang area, awaiting transportation.
The driver of a truck bearing registration number AS 18 C 0675 reportedly said that the consignment originated in Shallang and was headed for Haldhipara in Boko.
According to the driver, the truck was moving without essential documents, including an e-way bill and transport challan. He also alleged that transporters pay ₹1.5 lakh per truck to secure passage through a syndicate operating across the interstate border.
The network is said to be linked to an operator from Assam. However, the claims regarding the alleged payments, the operator’s involvement and the network’s operations have not been independently verified.
The coal is reportedly sourced from mining areas in Meghalaya, including Mautap, Tarajak, Langmar and Gareng, before being transported through the Athiabari-Hahim border route to destinations such as Haldhipara, brick kilns and industrial units in Assam.
It is reportedly procured at mine-head prices ranging from ₹2,500 to ₹4,000 per tonne and resold to buyers in Assam at higher prices.
Transporters allegedly maximise their margins by loading trucks with 40 to 45 tonnes of coal per trip. Such loads can pose serious road safety risks and damage road infrastructure if they exceed the vehicles’ permitted carrying capacity.
The alleged levy of ₹1.5 lakh per truck also raises questions about the scale of the operation and the possible loss of government revenue if coal is transported without the required permits and statutory payments.
