Justice Katakey demands accountability over missing 4,000 MT of illegal coal in Meghalaya

CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: Justice (Retd) B.P. Katakey, who heads the Meghalaya High Court-appointed committee on coal-related matters, has underscored serious gaps in verification after nearly 4,000 metric tonnes (MT) of allegedly illegally mined coal recorded at two depots in Ri-Bhoi and West Khasi Hills districts was found missing.

The matter came to light when the committee submitted its 31st interim report to the High Court. The court had appointed Justice Katakey a few years ago to recommend measures for the state government on coal matters. Physical verification of the missing coal remains incomplete, with Justice Katakey noting, “Actual physical verification is necessary because of the fact that the quantity which was arrived at by the MBDA is based on the aerial survey and the volumetric assessment, so what is the quantity of coal actually available—that can be measured after going to those locations, dumps, and verification of the same again by volumetric assessment. That process, they say, because of lack of certain information, they are unable to complete presently. That is their version. The final assessment is yet to be done; accordingly, they require one month more time to give the complete picture.”

He attributed the delay to a lack of information from the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) and the ongoing monsoon season, adding, “Because of the lack of certain information from Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA) they are unable to complete verification as per the High Court order… They are yet to finalize, so therefore according to them it is not that we have recorded any finding related to missing of 4000 MT of coal—that is their version.”

The MBDA had earlier recorded 1,839.03 MT of coal at a depot in Diengngan village, Ri-Bhoi district, but a recent inspection revealed only 2.5 MT along with residue and traces. Similarly, the Rajaju village depot in West Khasi Hills district was found to contain about 8 MT as against the earlier MBDA record of 2,121.62 MT.

Justice Katakey was unequivocal on the need for accountability: “But since around 4000 MT of coal was found by the MBDA, the district administration is answerable regarding the 4000 MT of coal found in two villages of that district. If any quantity is missing we have to say that it has been transported out somewhere and this coal being illegally mined coal, being not part of the reassessed, re-verified, inventoried coal—this action has to be taken as per MMDR Act.”

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