Rampant Illegal Coal Transport Threatens Assam's Infrastructure

The illegal transport of coal from Meghalaya into Assam is causing significant damage to infrastructure and posing serious safety risks for residents. Overloaded trucks are destroying roads and creating hazardous conditions for commuters. Local villagers have raised concerns about frequent accidents and power outages caused by these trucks. Despite repeated appeals for intervention, authorities have remained largely indifferent. Residents are now calling on higher courts to enforce stricter regulations against illegal coal transport and to prioritize public safety. This growing crisis highlights the urgent need for government action to protect both infrastructure and community well-being.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 5, 2025, 11:34 IST

Concerns Over Overloaded Trucks in Boko

Boko, Dec 5: The illegal transportation of coal from Meghalaya persists unabated, with excessively loaded trucks frequently entering Assam via the Boko-Hahim route in the Kamrup district. Despite numerous requests for action, the Assam Transport Department has shown little concern, allowing this issue to escalate.

Local residents claim that these trucks, which carry loads significantly exceeding legal limits, are damaging the recently constructed Boko-Hahim road. This road, funded by the North Eastern Council just a few years ago, is now rapidly deteriorating due to the trucks transporting between 36 and 45 tonnes of coal—over twice the legal limit of 16 tonnes. The frequent breakdowns and overturned trucks create significant traffic disruptions, posing risks to commuters. Students and villagers have labeled the route a ‘death trap’ due to the increasing number of accidents.

Villagers from Hahim, Lalmati, and Haldhipara report that these overloaded trucks often damage electricity lines, leaving entire communities without power during the night. The danger of sparks from trucks coming into contact with live wires has raised alarms about potential fires and serious accidents. Daily hazards confront motorcyclists, cyclists, and e-rickshaw drivers as trucks frequently halt abruptly in the roadway, leading to numerous incidents.

Truck drivers disclose that they pay between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.15 lakh in Meghalaya’s West Khasi Hills—specifically at Shallang, Riangdo, and Nongstoin—to gain access into Assam. After paying this ‘Assam-Meghalaya passing’ fee, no official documentation or challan is required. Locals suspect that officials from both states are complicit in this operation, prioritizing financial gain over public safety.

Residents accuse the governments of Assam and Meghalaya, along with local police and administrative bodies, of facilitating a coal syndicate while neglecting vital development in border regions, including road construction, educational facilities, healthcare, and the resolution of boundary disputes. As government inaction exacerbates the situation, concerned citizens and local organizations have reached out to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Supreme Court, urging them to take action against illegal coal transportation and to safeguard public safety.