Committee has received multiple petitions alleging ongoing illegal coal mining in South Garo Hills and West Garo Hills
SHILLONG, Jan 14: The Justice (retired) BP Katakey-headed committee appointed by the High Court of Meghalaya is set to investigate recent complaints of illegal coal mining and transportation in various parts of the state.
The one-member committee has received multiple petitions alleging ongoing illegal and unscientific rat-hole mining in areas such as Dobakol Nongalbibra in the South Garo Hills and West Garo Hills districts.
Speaking to The Shillong Times on Tuesday, Justice Katakey confirmed that he has taken cognizance of these complaints and directed the relevant departments to investigate the allegations and submit their findings.
“Once I receive the reports, I will take the necessary steps,” he said.
The committee is also considering conducting physical inspections of locations where illegal coal mining is reported.
The involvement of non-governmental individuals in the inspection process has not been ruled out.
So far, the committee has addressed three such petitions and recently received four more complaints.
A petition, filed by social activist Mingran T Sangma from Williamnagar, alleges ongoing illegal and unscientific rat-hole mining at Dobakol Nongalbibra in the South Garo Hills.
The petitioner claims these activities are happening openly under the district administration’s watch.
In another instance, a complainant named Krishan Kumar submitted a petition to Justice Katakey reporting illegal rat-hole coal mining in Goreng under West Khasi Hills and South Garo Hills.
Kumar also alleged that two individuals have been using fake invoices to export coal to Bangladesh.
According to the complainant, illegally-mined coal is falsely documented as originating from Nagaland and stored at a designated coal depot in Rongsa Awe, South Garo Hills, before being exported to Bangladesh through the Gasuapara Land Custom Station.
The Katakey committee is expected to take decisive action based on the findings of the ongoing inquiries and site inspections.
He will also visit Shillong by the end of this month to hold meetings with the departments concerned to determine the status of recent directives issued by the committee.
The high court appointed Justice Katakey to head the committee and recommend measures to be taken by the state in a suo motu case initiated by the court in 2022 on illegal coal mining in Meghalaya.