Meghalaya: Bernard Marak calls for halt on illegal areca nut trade in Garo Hills

Guwahati: Meghalaya BJP leader Bernard Marak has strongly urged authorities to swiftly terminate the illicit areca nut business in Garo Hills.

Marak emphasized the urgency of this action, citing the livelihoods of numerous families in the region who rely on their plantations.

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Expressing concern over the detrimental effects of the illegal areca nut trade, Marak claimed that it impacts rural communities, noting a significant lack of legitimate buyers within Garo Hills.

He further alleged that a group of businessmen from Meghalaya and Assam is facilitating the unlawful transportation of Burmese areca nut varieties across the Bangladesh borders, effectively dominating markets where Garo Hills' betelnuts were traditionally sold.

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This demand from Marak follows earlier calls made by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mukul Sangma for an investigation into the alleged "illegal" importation of high-quality dried betel nuts from Bangladesh into Meghalaya by central agencies.