GUWAHATI:

In a strongly worded open memorandum addressed to Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Raijor Dal President and Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi has raised serious alarms over the alleged revival of an illegal coal transportation syndicate operating across Upper Assam.

Gogoi’s intervention follows the spotting of roughly 42 heavy, suspected coal-laden trucks parked suspiciously along National Highways between Jhanji and Hanchara in the Jorhat district. According to the memorandum, local inquiries revealed that these vehicles were carrying coal originating from Meghalaya, routed via Amguri with the apparent intent of heading towards the Tuli railway station in Nagaland.

Key Developments & Allegations

 * Shifting of Trucks: The memorandum highlights that following public attention, several of these trucks were clandestinely relocated to alternative spots, including a petrol pump parking area in Teok and the vicinity of the Meleng toll gate in Jorhat district, without drawing any intervention from local law enforcement.

 * Alternative Routes and Border Standstills: Gogoi also flagged unverified reports suggesting that over 200 similar coal-laden trucks have been stranded near the Assam-West Bengal border following financial disagreements, prompting syndicates to reroute operations through Jorabat, Nagaon, Kaziranga, and Upper Assam.

 * Environmental Impact and Flood Linkages: Emphasising the catastrophic impact of recent floods that devastated constituencies like Nazira, Sivasagar, and Mahmora, Gogoi reiterated his stance that unregulated and illegal coal, stone, and sand mining in neighboring hills significantly aggravated the natural drainage disruptions and severe flooding in the region.

 * Political and Administrative Scrutiny: The Sivasagar MLA has called for an independent verification of local traders, transport intermediaries, and administrative roles, while publicly citing local allegations concerning high-profile figures. He has demanded that the government transparently clear its name through concrete action if claims implicating political figures are unfounded.

Core Demands Raised

Gogoi has pressed the state administration to execute an immediate series of actions, including:

•  Immediate Seizure: The physical seizure of all stranded or parked coal trucks across Jorhat, Teok, and Meleng.
• Permit & Documentation Verification: Rigorous checks on mining licenses, transit passes, e-way bills, and railway booking slips.
• Independent Probe: A comprehensive inquiry into the broader transport networks operating from Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh.
• Action Against Complicit Officials: Strict departmental and legal proceedings against any police or administrative personnel found shielding syndicate operations.

The state government’s official response to the memorandum and the demands for a high-level investigation is currently awaited.