By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: The 37th interim report of the Justice (retd) Brojendra Prasad (BP) Katakey committee has flagged prima facie violations of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), 2024, governing the transportation of coal and other minerals from outside Meghalaya.
In its report submitted to the court on Friday, the panel noted that while certain cement companies had applied on April 8 last year seeking permission to transport coal for the period between April 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026, no approval was granted by the competent authority.
Despite this, the committee cited M/S Star Cement Meghalaya Limited and Star Cement Limited for transporting 2,93,569.349 metric tonnes of coal through 8,174 truckloads between 2025 and 2026, and recommended appropriate action in case of SOP violations.
The panel also flagged discrepancies between official claims and ground records. The Superintendent of Police, East Jaintia Hills, had stated that the SOP for transportation of coal and other minerals "is being strictly followed". However, the committee said this assertion "is not correct", noting that records indicate inadequate compliance and absence of valid approvals under the SOP, 2024.
The report further pointed to missing documentation, including mineral transport challans, tax invoices, e-way bills, certificates of origin and weighment details, indicating procedural lapses in the movement of consignments.
To strengthen monitoring, the committee recommended the use of GPS-enabled vehicles, colour-coded identification stickers and regulated movement of coal through designated corridors and check gates.
It also stressed administrative accountability, stating that officers responsible for preventing illegal mining should be held personally liable for violations within their jurisdiction.
The panel further proposed the setting up of a High-Level Monitoring Committee headed by an Additional Chief Secretary-rank officer to oversee implementation of anti-illegal mining measures and utilisation of funds.
In addition, it directed that over 1.55 lakh metric tonnes of illegally mined coal identified through aerial surveys be transported to designated depots and auctioned after obtaining court approval. It also recommended registration of FIRs in connection with more than 33,000 metric tonnes of missing coal.
The findings come amid continuing concerns flagged by the Katakey committee over illegal coal mining in Meghalaya, particularly in East Jaintia Hills, which it has earlier identified as a major hub of illicit extraction and transport.