By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 4: Breaking its silence on the issue of the missing coal as divulged in the 31st and 33rd interim reports submitted by the Justice (retired) B.P. Katakey Committee to the High Court of Meghalaya, the state government on Tuesday clarified that the issue of 900 MT of coal labelled as missing (33rd interim report) in the Rajaju and Diengngan villages of South West Khasi Hills District is not a new occurrence.
Under Secretary in the Mining and Geology Department, S. Ch Momin, stated that the confirmed missing quantity is 920.7 MT, diverging from earlier speculations of 4,000 MT (31st interim report).
Momin clarified that an aerial survey conducted by the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) on January 17, 2025, assessed the coal volume in these villages using advanced technologies like Orthomosaic drone imagery along, 3D Point Clouds, Digital Surface Model, along with Surface Volume Tool, estimating 1,839.03 MT at Rajaju village and 2,121.62 MT at Diengngan Village, totalling approximately 4,000 MT.
Following directions from Justice Katakey, a physical verification by the Deputy Commissioner of South West Khasi Hills revealed discrepancies in coal quantities: 1,505.64 MT was found in Diengngan village compared to the MBDA’s estimate of 1,839.03 MT, and 1,534.28 MT in Rajaju village against 2,121.62 MT.
The estimates result in a discrepancy of about 920.73 MT based on the verification reports submitted during a meeting on September 22, 2025, the clarification stated. Additionally, two FIRs were filed at the Nonghyllam Police Station on September 23, 2025, following earlier reports regarding the missing coal.
The final analysis indicates that the confusion about the total quantity of missing coal arose not only from the MBDA’s initial assessment which included coordinates for unvisited locations but also from a misinterpretation of the report linking the matter to Ri-Bhoi District, which the government asserted is incorrect.
“Therefore, it is emphasised that the primary concern of missing coal specifically pertains to the two villages in South West Khasi Hills District, and the actual discrepancy has been reevaluated to be 920.73 MT instead of the initially speculated 4,000 MT,” the clarification stated.
