By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 4: The Justice (retired) BP Katakey-headed committee has recommended that the Secretary, Mining and Geology Department, conduct an enquiry into the unexplained shortage of 40,554.72 metric tonnes of re-assessed and re-verified inventoried coal in the Coal India Limited-designated depots of East Jaintia Hills, and submit a report within a fortnight.
The recommendation followed discrepancies detected between two official figures: 1,93,270.37 MT quantity communicated by the Director of Mineral Resources (DMR) on April 21, 2025, and 1,52,715.65 MT reported by the Divisional Mining Officer (DMO), Jowai, after the last auction on April 17, 2025.
The committee noted that while six CIL-designated depots in East Jaintia Hills were found to contain 1,52,715.65 MT of re-assessed coal, the earlier DMR figure suggested a significantly higher stock, resulting in the shortage now flagged for investigation.
The committee’s 34th interim report also highlighted delays in the disposal of re-assessed and re-verified coal across several districts due to the absence of any further auction after April 17, 2025 although it was required.
As per the DMR’s communication, 2,13,567.99 MT of re-assessed/re-verified coal was put up for auction on April 17 across four districts. Of this, only 3,563 MT was sold. The district-wise figures are: East Jaintia Hills – 1,96,740.37 MT put up, 3,470 MT sold and 1,93,270.37 MT unsold; South West Khasi Hills – 11,124.62 MT put up, 93 MT sold and 11,031.62 MT unsold; West Khasi Hills – 84 MT put up, none sold; and South Garo Hills – 5,619 MT put up, none sold.
The committee noted that the continued non-conduct of auctions since April has resulted in large volumes of inventoried coal lying idle in various CIL-designated depots.
The enquiry, once completed, is expected to determine how the shortfall of 40,554.72 MT arose within the East Jaintia Hills depots.
The committee directed authorities in South West Khasi Hills to dispose of applications submitted by Ruthina Marak and Rukmini Marak within 15 days, after obtaining necessary Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board permissions, to facilitate the transportation of coal purchased through auction upon payment of full bid value.
The committee sought urgent recovery of Rs 530.59 lakh from 15 coke oven plants and Rs 1,31,37,800 from M/s Shree Shakambari Ferro Alloy Pvt Ltd, with a status report due within three weeks.
Finally, it asked the Mining and Geology Department to expedite collection of proposals from the departments concerned for utilisation of Rs 100 crore kept with the Central Pollution Control Board, noting that only proposals worth Rs 20,21,93,813 (including Rs 17,52,33,394 already sanctioned and Rs 2,69,60,419 pending) have been submitted so far.
The 34th interim report further revealed that none of the 33 illegal coke oven plants – 16 in East Jaintia Hills and 17 in West Khasi Hills – which were identified for demolition under Supreme Court orders has been taken down so far.
For East Jaintia Hills, the Deputy Commissioner informed the committee that show-cause notices were issued to all 16 plants for violating siting norms as directed by the Supreme Court order dated November 25, 2024 in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 720/2023. No plant has submitted a reply. The district administration also stated that demolition funds, as proposed to the Directorate of Mineral Resources, are yet to be made available.
The committee directed the DC to demolish the 16 plants within a fortnight of receiving funds and submit a detailed report. The Directorate of Mineral Resources has been instructed to immediately release the required funds to enable the demolition.
For West Khasi Hills, the report noted that none of the 17 illegal coke oven plants has been demolished. The district administration informed that demolition will begin upon receipt of Rs 42,50,000, as estimated by the Divisional Forest Officer (West and South West Khasi Hills). A formal proposal for the fund was submitted on August 8, 2025.
The committee recommended immediate release of funds to both districts for demolishing all 33 illegal plants in compliance with the Supreme Court’s order in the Druk Fuel Limited case. It further directed that until demolition is completed, the DCs and the SPs of both districts must ensure that none of the plants operates in any manner.
