Shillong, July 25: The Meghalaya High Court has directed the State to take action and hold accountable the persons or officials under whose watch a large quantity of coal has disappeared from Rajaju and Diengngan villages and to trace the persons who have lifted the same illegally.

The court’s direction was issued while considering the 31st Interim Report filed by the Justice BP Katakey Committee.

The report had stated that according to the Deputy Commissioner’s inspection report, only 2.50 metric tons of coal were found in Diengngan village, against 1839.03 metric tons recorded by the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA).

Similarly, in Rajaju village, approximately 8 metric tons of coal were found, against 2121.62 metric tons recorded by the MBDA.

The division bench comprising Justice HS Thangkhiew and Justice W Diengdoh has noted that the coal in question is illegally mined, and it appears that unknown persons have lifted and transported the coal despite detection.

“The State respondents are therefore to take urgent action in this regard and to hold accountable the persons or officials under whose watch, the same has been allowed to happen, and also to trace the persons who have lifted this coal illegally,” the bench has directed in its order passed after hearing a PIL on Thursday (July 24).

The court has directed the state respondents to intimate the action taken on applications filed by persons claiming non-inclusion of their existing coal in the survey conducted by M/s Garuda, including registration of police cases or lodging of FIRs under the MMDR Act, 1957.

With regard to the applications filed by persons claiming non-inclusion of their existing coal in the survey conducted by M/s Garuda, the Committee has reported that only 1 person ’s claim was found to be genuine, and out of the 21 applications, 1 person’s coal was not in the Inventory List, 6  persons coal was not covered by the affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, and 14 persons coal, though included in the stock of re-assessed/re-verified coal, survey was not found in those co-ordinates.

“In consideration of these findings, the State respondents are therefore to intimate as to what action that has been taken thereafter in respect of the coal of these 21 applicants, whether any Police case has been registered against those persons, or whether any FIR has been lodged by the authorized officer under MMDR Act, 1957, and if so the outcome of the same,” the bench directed.

Further, the court has also directed the state government to expedite the disposal of re-assessed and re-verified inventoried coal lying in Coal India Limited (CIL) designated depots.

The court has noted that meetings have been held with concerned departments, including Coal India Limited (CIL), to suggest more efficacious and reliable methods for the expeditious auction of the substantial remaining quantity of re-assessed and re-verified inventoried coal.

The CIL has proposed four suggestions, and the Chairman of the Independent Committee of Coal Auction has proposed three suggestions, some of which have already been incorporated in the Revised Comprehensive Plan, 2022.

Suggestions have also been put forward to convene a meeting with the authorized coal-based industries in the State to encourage them to participate in the coal auction process, and also for providing concessional rate to such industries, who are bulk consumers.

Further, the court has also reviewed a status report filed by the state respondents, highlighting the progress made on various issues related to coal mining in the state.

The state respondents have reported filing FIRs in cases of illegally mined coal in South Garo Hills District and disappearance of coal in Rajaju and Diengngan villages.

The report indicates that action has been taken with regard to coal found outside designated depots in Jaintia Hills, and inspections have been conducted. It stated that the non-matching of challans with truck numbers has been attributed to breakdown and mechanical defects.

The state respondents also assured that the audit of coke oven plants is still ongoing, and the findings will be placed before the court on the next date adding that the possibility of integrating smart-check gates with customs check gates is being explored.

Regarding the closure of abandoned mines, the report stated that the final Detailed Project Report (DPR) is still pending.

It was also informed that the state has realized Rs 13,49,093 in demurrage charges, with a balance of Rs 5,01,947 still pending.

The matter will be listed for further orders on August 25, 2025, and the state government has been directed to submit a status report on the actions taken.

Also Read: Durand Cup returns to Shillong | Lajong gear up to face Malaysian Armed Forces tomorrow

Also Watch

Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.

Also, Follow us on-

Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub

Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020

Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub

Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub