Assam: Coal Syndicate Rampant in Ledo-Margherita, Right Under the Nose of Authorities

Margherita, February 27, 2020:

Massive coal syndicate has been reported from Assam’s Margherita. Amid the coal syndicate from Kharsang, in Arunachal Pradesh, the coal smuggling in the Ledo-Margherita route has come to the fore.

According to reports, hundreds of vehicles laden with coal are continuing to ply on the Ledo-Margherita route. Locals have held the authorities responsible for the issue. They have even said that the smuggling has been arranged with the help of the authorities.

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A resident of Digboi, Assam, Rajib Changmai had taken to Facebook LIVE to inform about being lathicharged by authorities for speaking against the ongoing Coal syndicate in the area. “The administration is allowing hundreds of trucks with coal loaded in them. When we were protesting against it, the officials came to take side of the smugglers,” said Changmai.

It was also reported that several trucks loaded with coal stood at the Tinsukia bypass. It may be mentioned here that Coal India Limited does not use the roadways to extract coal from one area to another. Locals have alleged that some coal mafias of Margherita namely Sunil Gurung, Dinesh Tipmiya, Ajay Bhowmik, B Ganesh, Gobind Chhetri, Kuldeep Singh are leading the ongoing coal syndicate in the state.

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It needs mention here that coal syndicate has been a long pending issue since the past years. The Opposition leaders, especially Pradyut Bordoloi has been vocal about the ongoing issue. However, no action has been taken yet.

"Hundreds of trucks continue to ply daily even today. There has been no action taken by the authorities," said Pramod Singh.

(With Inputs from Pramod Singh) 

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