Inquiry under way into reports of illicit coal mining: Katakey

SHILLONG, March 14: Amid unconfirmed reports of a move by the state government to remove Justice (retired) BP Katakey, who is heading the one-man committee to probe illegal mining and transportation of coal, the former Judge is continuing with his relentless pursuit to unearth the coal nexus.
The VPP and the BJP have expressed their opposition to any move to remove Justice Katakey, while the state government has neither confirmed nor denied such a move.
Refusing to take note of reports of a plan to remove him, Justice BP Katakey told The Shillong Times on Friday that he has received four to five complaints and that an investigation is under way into each of them.
“I am expecting the reports on the inquiry into each of the complaints. However, no new reports of illicit coal extraction and transportation have surfaced,” he said.
An official announced that Justice Katakey would spend two days in Shillong at the end of this month to review and obtain an update on all of the commission’s standing directives to the state government on the prevention of illicit coal mining and transportation in the state.
During his time on the one-man commission, Justice Katakey has issued numerous directives and brought attention to several cases of illicit coal mining.
Many in the administration, which is already accused of allowing illicit coal mining to flourish, disagreed with the committee’s recommendations, and discussions were made over the possibility of filing a plea in the High Court to have the Katakey-led Committee removed.
However, political parties and non-governmental organisations have strongly resisted the notion. The government has not yet filed any petition in the court to have the Katakey-led Committee removed.
It may be noted that the VPP has asked the state government not to prevent Justice Katakey from investigating illegal coal mining and transportation, as mandated by the High Court of Meghalaya.
“We strongly urge the government to not interfere with his performance and allow him to carry out his duties and responsibilities,” VPP chief Ardent M Basaiawmoit said in the Assembly on Wednesday.
The BJP has also opposed the move to terminate the services of Justice Katakey, insisting that the committee has been appointed by the High Court of Meghalaya and it is imperative that the committee takes the inquiry to its logical conclusion.