Drone surveillance, patrolling among committee’s list of recommendations

SHILLONG, Feb 11: In its 27th interim report submitted to the High Court of Meghalaya, the Justice (retired) BP Katakey-headed single-member committee made several recommendations, including drone surveillance, to curb illegal coal mining activities.
The committee reiterated that the superintendents of police use drones to detect illegal coal mining activities, highlighting that the difficult terrain and the remote nature of several areas where illegal mining was previously recorded make conventional surveillance challenging.
The committee emphasised that drone surveillance, with its ability to access hard-to-reach locations, will help ensure effective monitoring and prompt action.
According to the committee’s recommendations, the SPs concerned will identify, within a week, areas in each district where illegal coal mining activities were previously noted and video surveillance is likely to be most effective.
The report also called for the immediate formation of a dedicated team of officers, led by an officer not below the rank of DSP who has already received training at the Police Headquarters in Shillong. This team will be responsible for executing drone surveillance, prioritising areas based on past illegal mining activities and any new intelligence, and maintaining the recorded video footage for a period of six months.
“The officer in charge of the team is expected to submit weekly reports to the respective SPs, detailing the number of sorties conducted, the specific localities or areas covered, the outcomes of the surveillance, and any subsequent actions taken or cases registered at local police stations,” the report said.
The initiative also mandates that the SPs will oversee the surveillance operations in the identified areas under their respective jurisdictions and compile a fortnightly report to be submitted to the Director General of Police, Meghalaya.
The report must include certification of the drone surveillance activities and provide a comprehensive evaluation of their effectiveness.
Moreover, the report said, DGP Idashisha Nongrang or an officer authorised by her who is not below the rank of Inspector General of Police, may issue further directions to the SPs to optimise the use of drone surveillance and ensure that the objectives of the drone control rooms are met.
“The DGP is further required to submit a consolidated report to the Chief Secretary, which will include the insights of the SPs, an assessment of the drone control rooms’ effectiveness, and any necessary directives issued by an officer not below the rank of Additional Chief Secretary,” the report said.
In addition to the drone surveillance measures, the report stressed the importance of regular patrolling. According to the report, the SPs are to increase the frequency of patrols in all areas, supplementing drone surveillance with conventional methods where needed.
The committee recommended that the Officer-in-Charge of every police station in each district should be instructed to submit a fortnightly report to the respective SPs, who will then compile these reports and issue necessary directions for further action.
This comprehensive compilation is to be forwarded to the Police Headquarters and the Mining and Geology Department, ensuring coordinated follow-up actions. Furthermore, SPs in neighbouring districts are expected to collaborate closely to enhance the overall effectiveness of these measures, the report stated.