The 30th interim report submitted by Justice (Retd) Brojendra Prasad Katakey on the illegal mining of coal in Meghalaya had taken cognizance of a report published in the Highland Post relating to death of a labourer in mine shaft in Musiang village in East Jaintia Hills District.
The committee had requested the Chief Secretary to instruct the concerned Superintendent of Police to submit a report on the matter.
According to the Katakey committee the preliminary report submitted by the In-charge of Ladrymbai police outpost to the Superintendent of Police, East Jaintia Hills District, reveals that the news item could not be established since till May 22, 2025 no information or official report about such incident has been reported to the police.
“It has also been stated that the records of the medical facilities also do not disclose bringing any person, dead or alive, from the mine areas,” the report stated.
The committee observed that if the incident of death of the labourer in mine shaft occurred, as reported the same may not at all be reported to the police station and such labourer may not be taken to any medical facilities available, as it may expose the continued illegal mining activities, if any.
The Katakey committee report stated that the preliminary enquiry report submitted by the in-charge of Ladrymbai police outpost cannot, therefore, be accepted.
The committee stated that it is of the view that a detailed enquiry needs to be conducted by an officer not below the rank of the Inspector of Police to find out the truth or otherwise of the aforesaid news report and to submit the report to the Superintendent of Police.
The report also stated that the Superintendent of Police is also required to oversee such enquiry and submit a report to the Mining and Geology department as well as to the Committee, within a fortnight, so that necessary action in that regard is taken.
On the issue of allegation of illegal transportation of coal in Ri-Bhoi District, which had been earlier indicated in its 28th interim report, the committee said that the vehicle ML-10-A-4862 is found to have possessed the Mineral Transport Challan of another vehicle bearing registration number ML-05-AB-2312.
The interim report also stated that the plea of the driver that the vehicle broke down could not be substantiated.
The committee stated that the non-compliance of the requirement of Clause 10(c) of the Revised Comprehensive Plan, 2022 relating to the issuance of MTC has also been projected in the interim report.
“Pendency of the process of ascertaining the quantity of coal carried by the said truck was also pending on the date of submission of the said interim report,” the committee stated.
The committee observed that action need be taken against the owner, driver of the vehicle bearing registration number ML-10-A-4862 as well as the said vehicle under the provisions of the MMDR Act for carrying coal without any MTC.
The committee stated that even assuming that the said truck has requisite MTC to carry re-assessed/re-verified inventoried coal purchased in the auction conducted by MSTC on behalf of the Coal India Limited (CIL), the said truck was found to have carried more than the permissible limit, which indicates that the additional quantity carried in the said truck was illegally mined coal as the CIL designated depot cannot allow loading of coal beyond the permissible limit.
“It, therefore, appears that one of the modus operandi for carrying illegally mined coal is carrying the same beyond the permissible limit of the truck. While carrying re-assessed/re-verified inventoried auctioned purchase coal with MTC,” the Katakey report stated.
