Shillong: A panel demands a full probe into a coal-hauling truck that crashed near Mecofed in Mawiong. The vehicle, tagged AS-01-AC-8401, overturned between 3:30 am and 4 am on August 24 while driving from Nongstoin toward Guwahati. Officials found the truck lacked the required Mineral Transport Challan from the Directorate of Mineral Resources.
The truck manager turned up at Mawlai Police Station later, clutching photocopies. He claimed the cargo belonged to a successful bidder for 8,338.374 MT of auction coal from Shalang Kyllonmathei in West Khasi Hills. He also tried to pass off a photocopy of a challan book, claiming his truck replaced another vehicle, ML-05-AE-1674, after a breakdown.
Investigators hit a wall. The manager failed to produce original documents for either truck or proof of the supposed breakdown replacement. The committee flagged the shipment as a clear breach of standard operating procedures, stating: "The Committee has called for a detailed inquiry to establish whether the coal being carried by the vehicle was auctioned coal or illegally mined coal and whether the prescribed SOP for transportation of auctioned coal had been followed."
Authorities now want answers from the Mining and Geology Department and the Directorate of Mineral Resources. The police must turn in a status report within 15 days.
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