Shillong: A high court-appointed panel has flagged major irregularities in coal transportation by two cement companies in Meghalaya, alleging that nearly 2.93 lakh metric tonnes of coal were brought into the state without complying with mandatory procedures.
The findings come from a report submitted by a committee headed by retired judge B P Katakey, which has been tasked by the court with monitoring adherence to directions aimed at curbing illegal coal mining and movement.
According to the report, the companies transported coal into Meghalaya between February 2025 and February 2026 without securing approvals required under the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), 2024.
The panel noted that although the firms had applied on April 8 last year for permission to move coal during the period from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026, the competent authority had not granted approval.
Despite this, transportation continued, violating key provisions of the SOP.
In addition to the lack of prior clearance, the committee pointed to several procedural lapses, including failure to submit mandatory weekly returns.
It also found that essential documentation-such as mineral transport challans, tax invoices, e-way bills, certificates of origin and weighment records-was missing in multiple cases, raising serious concerns over the legitimacy of the consignments.
The report further referred to a March 4 accident in East Jaintia Hills district, where coal was allegedly being transported without authorisation, underscoring ongoing enforcement gaps.
It also criticised investigating agencies for not examining the role of landowners in areas where illegal mining was detected.
To address these issues, the panel has recommended stricter enforcement of SOP norms, verification of all coal transport records, and a comprehensive probe into the violations, a report said.
It has also suggested the adoption of technology-driven measures such as GPS tracking of vehicles, colour-coded identification systems, designated transport corridors and smart integrated checkpoints.
The committee emphasised that enforcement strategies currently in place in East Jaintia Hills should be expanded to other coal-rich areas of the state to more effectively tackle illegal mining and transportation.