Shillong, Jan 28: Justice BP Katakey (Retired), appointed by the Meghalaya High Court to lead the committee on coal transportation, has directed the coal audit committee to submit a comprehensive status report on the sources of coal within two weeks.

Reaffirming his previous instructions, Justice Katakey emphasized the necessity of conducting a thorough audit of coal sources used by coke industries, ferroalloy plants, and cement companies’ power generation units. His 2020 report, submitted during his tenure with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) committee, revealed that certain cement companies had been procuring coal illegally without settling the required dues. He recommended the recovery of nearly ₹400 crore from these companies—a matter that remains pending before the NGT and is currently under challenge in the Supreme Court.

Justice Katakey acknowledged progress in the ongoing coal audit, noting that some coke-based industries had admitted to sourcing coal from illegal channels and agreed to pay the applicable GST. However, some cement companies have requested additional time to submit their responses. The coal audit committee has issued notices demanding documentary evidence to validate these claims.

Underlining the urgency of the situation, Justice Katakey stressed the need for expedited progress and directed that the status report be submitted within a fortnight.

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