By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 20: Justice (retd) BP Katakey on Friday said the committee to inquire into the source of coal used by coke factories is expected to be constituted by Monday. The report is likely to be submitted within a week thereafter.
“At one point in time, my information was that the coke industry is using the local coal and now I am in the process of verification as I have to remove my doubts,” he said.
Katakey said he had earlier directed the Meghalaya government to constitute a committee to look into the source of coal and make an audit of how much coke the factories have produced and how much coal was used in the manufacturing process.
“I am expecting the notification on the committee by Monday and I have sought the completion of the job fast so I can get a report within the week and discuss it in our next meeting on February 1,” he said.
Giving an update on the coke factories, Katakey said, “Certain coke industries are still in operation. Most of them, according to the deputy commissioners, have been closed or seized. For a few others, the process of closure is going on because of non-compliance with certain norms.”
The retired judge also said a similar exercise has to be carried out by the deputy commissioner of Ri-Bhoi district and a committee is to be constituted by the government for verifying the source of the coke, the raw material for ferroalloy plants operating in the district.