Illegal stocking of coal on agricultural land

CHANDRAPUR: Unauthorized stock of huge quantity of coal in an empty plot between standing cotton crops on Rajura-Gadchandur road surprised many passersby on Friday. The coal was apparently stocked there by Chadda Transport Company, which had lifted the load from Gauri mine under Ballarpur area for an industry in Ghugus.
Notably, the district collector has issued closure notices to over 129 coal depots around the town for causing pollution.Sudden deposition of coal stock in agricultural plot shocked farmers having standing crops in adjacent farms. The transporter had not obtained any permission from revenue authorities for the dumping of coal on the empty plot.
Mohit Chadda of Chadda Transport Company explained that since the period of dispatch order of the coal had ended, they had to lift the coal in a hurry with the help of available trucks. As the coal needed to be supplied with the help of tippers to the company, they had emptied the coal on the agricultural plot for a brief period and would lift the same very soon. He admitted that the plot used for dumping did not have permission for non-agricultural use.
Rajura tehsildar Vandana Saurangpatte said she had not granted any permission for coal stocking by the transport company and said she would inquire into the matter.