ANVC-B on coal trade

SHILLONG, JAN 16: The A’chik National Volunteer Council-B (ANVC-B) has expressed concern over alleged loss of revenue to the government exchequer from the coal trade due to an unholy nexus between unscrupulous traders and corrupt government officials.

In a statement issue here on Wednesday, ANVC B chairman Rimpu Marak alleged a huge amount of coal that goes out from the state are unaccounted for and almost one-third of the total volume of the export business has been gobbled up certain politicians and officials. He, however, did not take any names.

Marak further said the coal traders do not pay taxes to the district councils and export far greater volume of coal than what they show on record. Terming such acts as nothing but blatant exploitation of the simplicity of the people and the tax-free regime enjoyed by them, he said this was only benefitting the companies from outsides at the cost of both the state government and the autonomous district councils. “Sadly there are no means to check this…We will take up the matter with the government,” he asserted. (By Our Reporter)