The Centre for Environment Protection and Rural Development (CEPARD) has expressed deep concern over the state government’s alleged desire to terminate the services of Justice (retd) BP Katakey in the committee tasked by the Meghalaya High Court to investigate cases of illegal coal mining.
Recently, there have been reports that the state government is looking to terminate Justice Katakey’s appointment as he has been too successful in exposing illegal coal mining, which has, it is alleged, hurt the dealings of those connected to high level members of the government.
CEPARD said that, “as an environmental protection group committed to justice and sustainability”, it fears the decision would be a “major blow to the rule of law and the pursuit of environmental justice in the state.”
Justice Katakey has exposed violations of the National Green Tribunal’s ban on rat-hole coal mining and his removal at this stage “raises serious concerns about the state government’s true intent regarding environmental governance and transparency.”
The larger issue at stake, CEPARD argued, is not just illegal coal mining “but the pattern of systemic neglect in enforcing environmental laws across Meghalaya. Illegal sand mining continues to devastate riverbeds, while unregulated stone quarrying has resulted in widespread deforestation, landslides and air pollution, impacting both ecosystems and local communities. Despite these ongoing environmental violations, enforcement agencies remain passive and those involved operate with impunity. Justice Katakey’s efforts to bring such issues to light have made him a target of those who benefit from Meghalaya’s weak regulatory oversight.”
