The Meghalaya High Court, led by Justice HS Thangkhiew, has ordered the state government to identify those responsible for the disappearance of nearly 4,000 metric tonnes (MT) of illegally mined coal from depots in Rajaju and Diengngan villages, as revealed in the 31st interim report by the Justice (Retd) BP Katakey Committee. The court, hearing the case on Thursday, expressed alarm that only 2.5 MT remained of 1,839.03 MT recorded at Diengngan and 8 MT of 2,121.62 MT at Rajaju, despite prior detection.

The committee, tasked with overseeing coal mining and transport, highlighted lax enforcement, noting “unidentified persons” transported the coal undetected. The court demanded accountability from officials and directed the state to trace culprits and file FIRs under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. FIRs have been lodged in Rajaju, Diengngan, and South Garo Hills, but updates on investigations remain vague.

The report also addressed stalled auctions of inventoried coal at Coal India Limited (CIL) depots, recommending stricter rules: full payment within 120 days and coal lifting within 120 days of payment, with bid cancellation and forfeiture of Earnest Money Deposit for non-compliance. The state has paused fresh auctions to resolve issues, following CIL’s suggestion. Local coal-based industries are encouraged to participate, with concessional rates proposed for bulk buyers.

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Of 21 claims contesting unrecorded coal stocks in a Garuda UAV survey, only one was valid; others lacked verifiable coordinates or affidavits. The court sought clarity on actions taken, including potential FIRs. Issues like truck-challan mismatches, attributed to mechanical breakdowns, and overloading are under scrutiny, with enforcement teams deployed. A reported miner’s death in Musiang village was debunked by police.

The committee noted progress in recovering ₹13.49 lakh in demurrage charges, with ₹5.01 lakh pending, and plans to integrate Smart Check Gates with customs to curb illegal transport. With ongoing audits of coke oven plants and persistent illegal mining despite a 2014 NGT ban, the court set the next hearing for August 25, demanding compliance and detailed reports.

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