Coal import from Indian state of Meghalaya is likely to resume soon after a break of a five-month.
Visiting leaders of Meghalaya Co-ordination Committee of coal owners, miners and dealers forum disclosed this at a meeting with Sylhet coal importers at a city hotel on Sunday night.
Following a law suit filed by Meghalayan environmentalists group, coal import from India was stopped on May 16, 2014. After hearing, the court passed an order on October 7 in this regard, said SL Kriam, chairman of the coal owners’ forum.
“The court directed us to submit royalty in three phases within 45 days. Following the verdict, the stalemate will be resolved and coal export from India will resume as soon as possible,” he said.
Falah Uddin Ali Ahmed, chairman of the Sylhet coal importers group, said: “The government counts loss of Tk1 crore everyday because of the suspension on coal import from India.”
About five lakh tonnes of coal are imported from July to October every year, he said, adding that about 50,000 labourers remain jobless for the disruption in coal import.
Coal is mainly imported through Tamabil, Bholaganj, Sutarkandi, Barchara, Charagoan and Bogla borders of Sylhet.
