DIGBOI, Feb 10 � Prohibitory order under Section 144 Cr PC has been issued by the subdivisional magistrate of Margherita, PR Gharphalia, against illegal trafficking of coal in the areas under Margherita subdivision with effect from the afternoon of February 8. The order prohibits movement of public in the leased area of North Eastern Coal Fields, Margherita and other coal bearing areas other than the leased area by officially permitted persons/group of persons/officials/agencies for extracting, storing, transporting and selling of coal in person or in vehicles with immediate effect. It also bans movement of vehicular traffic transporting coal without paying royalty, cess, VAT and other taxes as applicable within the jurisdiction of the subdivision forthwith.
The prohibitory order has been issued in the wake of reports of illegal mining and transportation of coal by some unscrupulous persons and groups within the leased areas under North Eastern Coal Fields Ltd., Margherita and also outside areas falling within the jurisdiction of Margherita subdivision. The Coal India Ltd. or its legal representatives are the sole operators of mining and transportation as per Coal Mines (Nationalisation) Act, 1973 within four specified areas of the Margherita civil subdivision.
The order stated that the North Eastern Coal Fields authority has informed the SDM Office that it has not officially allowed any person/group of persons/organisations etc., to extract and do the transportation of coal along the Margherita-Changlang road barring its own official operators. Increasing number of complaints flowed into the SDM Office from different quarters about the extraction of coal, transportation and sale without valid documents resulting in great losses to the State exchequer.
Moreover, complaints of loss of life were also reported from time to time and subsequent law and order problems arising from such cases. The involvements, the order states, of large number of people in stealing of coal from and outside the leased area of NECFL, Margherita are also being reported to the SDM Office of Margherita for sometime and these are likely to lead to socio-legal tensions in these areas.
