With an aim of rehabilitating coal and betel nut trading in the State, the Government is to introduce a new standard operating system (SOP) exclusively for the Barak Valley.
Discussion on the SOP:
To have a discussion over the same, two Ministers of the Himanta Biswa Sarma cabinet, Bimal Borah and Jogen Mohan, on January 30, met the MLAs and the MP of Cachar, where the representatives of various political parties and trading communities were present.
A serious allegation of syndicate-centric inter-state trading of coal and betel nut in Barak Valley has arisen since a while ago. Former BJP MLA from Silchar Dilip Paul pointed the accusing finger at some big shots of the ruling party for their alleged involvement in the corrupt syndicate.
CM Sarma on coal trading in the state:
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently said that since the livelihood of thousands of people depends on the trading of coal and betel nuts, the government could by no means halt it for a long time. “A new SOP for smooth trading will soon get the shape,” he clarified.
Bora and Mohan contacts people:
Following the Chief Minister’s directives, Borah and Mohan met people in Karimganj, Hailakandi and Silchar. They also heard the views of traders. The traders advocated for immediate resumption of coal and betel nut business. Without sufficient coal, tea, cement and brick industries face problems, they said.