Meghalaya International Exporters’ Chamber of Commerce (MIECC) secretary Dolly Khonglah told this correspondent about the growing export of stone boulders. "Each day, we export 30 odd trucks of boulders from Tamabil export point," said Khonglah. She said that the exports of boulders came in the wake of Bangladesh Government’s restrictions on its citizens to use mechanized machines to extract boulders from river tips along the international border. Huge boulders and sand from the hinterland of Meghalaya flows to Bangladesh and they are mechanically extracted by Bangladeshis from the river’s entry point into Bangladesh.
"The ban has compounded the problem of small-scale industries that have been providing the products for construction works in Bangladesh," stated a Bangladeshi businessman involved in boulder importing business at the zero line. Meanwhile, exporters of stone boulders from Meghalaya are aggrieved, especially when they have to pay an additional amount to the Forest Department as well as the 12 per cent VAT for the export. "We are paying royalty for every LC acquired for exporting coal," stated Khonglah, adding, "This unwarranted taxation by the State Government does not commensurate with directive of the Union Ministry of Commerce". Already the MEICC has decided to write to the Centre for its intervention. Meanwhile, coal exports from Tamabil came to a grinding halt since July 1 SOURCE: THE SENTINEL