Shillong: The Justice (Retd) B.P. Katakey-led committee has recommended that an FIR be registered against 21 individuals accused of making false claims regarding coal extraction in Meghalaya.
In the report submitted to the Meghalaya High Court, the committee stated that a physical verification of the alleged mining sites revealed no evidence of coal extraction, contrary to the claims made in an application filed on May 28, 2024.
The panel urged the state government to initiate proceedings under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, in relation to 5,946 metric tonnes of coal linked to applications filed by one C. Dkhar and 21 others.
The committee further called for the immediate auction of re-assessed and re-verified inventoried coal stored in Coal India Limited (CIL)-designated depots, in line with the Revised Comprehensive Plan, 2022, and as approved by the Oversight Committee in July 2025.
Out of 2,13,567.99 metric tonnes of coal earmarked for auction, 2,10,004.99 tonnes remain unsold, the report noted.
In a bid to clamp down on illegal coal operations, the Katakey committee recommended that 33 unlicensed coke oven plants—16 in East Jaintia Hills and 17 in West Khasi Hills—be demolished within a week for violating the Supreme Court’s order dated November 25, 2024.
It also asked the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board to carry out quarterly inspections to prevent the re-emergence of illegal units.
The report directed authorities to shift 920.73 metric tonnes of illegally mined coal from Rajaju and Diengngan to CIL’s Nongjri depot for auction under the MMDR Act.
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Additionally, it ordered the immediate tracing and verification of coal dumps identified through a Garuda UAV survey across East Jaintia Hills, South West Khasi Hills, and West Khasi Hills districts by November.
The committee also proposed the recovery of Rs 530.59 lakh from 15 coke oven plants and Rs 1.71 crore from Sakambari Ferro Alloy Pvt. Ltd.
It further called for an audit of coal sources used by remaining ferro alloy and captive power plants of cement companies within a month, followed by recovery proceedings if discrepancies are found.
Lastly, the panel urged the Oversight Committee to expedite decisions on three pending proposals within 15 days, stressing the need for timely action to curb illegal coal mining and ensure accountability.
