Shillong, May 2: An accident involving a coal-laden truck claimed the life of a woman besides causing injury to several others on March 4 this year, exposing illegal transportation.
While referring to the accident, the Justice BP Katakey Committee, in its 37th interim report to the Meghalaya High Court, pointed about the violation of Standard operating Procedure ( SoP) while transporting coal by Star Cement.
Katakey recommended investigation into violations of the SoP, citing the accident at Bindihati village, East Jaintia Hills.
The committee recommended a fresh set of measures to check illegal coal mining and transportation, including strict enforcement of the SoP 2024, GPS-fitted trucks, smart check-gates, and personal accountability of officers.
The committee stressed “strict compliance of various clauses of SoP, 2024, so as to prevent illegal coal mining activities, including transportation of coal into and from the State of Meghalaya, otherwise it may not be feasible to stop the illegal coal mining activities.”
The panel also sought verification of documents produced by M/S Star Cement Meghalaya Limited and Star Cement Limited for transporting 2,93,569.349 MT coal by 8174 truckloads between 02/01/2025 to 28/02/2026” and called for action “in case of non-availability/non-production of any of the documents, required to be produced under the SoP.”
To tighten monitoring of coal movement, the committee suggested modifying the procedure for transport of coal from mining leases.
The major recommendation is the “use of vehicle fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) device for transportation of coal,” with details to be furnished to the Director of Mineral Resources, Shillong.
Other suggestions include include pasting of specific colour stickers, to be supplied by the Directorate of Mineral Resources, Shillong, in prominent place of the front windshield of the vehicle and “fixation of designation route and the functional smart integrated exit check-gate(s) through which the vehicle must pass through.”
The panel wanted production of “Invoice /E-Way bills in compliance with the GST norms; certificate of origin; weighment slip and transit pass(es) at the exit check-gate by the transporter.”
The report suggested setting up of integrated smart DMR Check-gates at convenient places on routes including Nangalbira-Mendipathar Railway Station, Rongjeng-Dainadubi, and Nangalbibrda-Gasuapara.
Katakey also sought conversion of the temporary DMR check-gate in Mendipathar to a “round the clock smart check-gate” due to allegations of illegal coal being transported to Mendipathar Railway Station.
A smart check-gate was also recommended in Athiabari village area in South West Khasi Hills District and near the Athiabari Police Out Post to prevent transportation of illegally mined coal to Assam .
The committee said officers entrusted with preventing illegal mining should be “personally responsible for any illegal mining activities that may occur within their jurisdiction,” referring to the recommendation from its 35th Interim Report that has not been implemented.
Regarding illegally mined coal, the panel said steps must be taken for transportation of “1,55,390.6 MT illegally mined coal, out of 1,92,840.13 MT found by M/S Garuda UAV in the aerial survey conducted,” to identified depots.
The committee said that auction of the coal should follow after obtaining necessary orders.
It also wanted immediate issuance of notice for auction of re-assessed coal in CIL designated depots, and lodging of FIRs relating to the remaining missing quantity of 33307.7 MT illegally mined coal in the jurisdictional police station(s), which has not been done despite the recommendation made by the Committee in its 35th Interim Report.
The committee asked for payment of adequate compensation to the legal heirs of the Mosaid Ali,” citing the SP, East Jaintia Hills’ report that the death occurred due to a fall in a mine pit and completion of investigation in Khliehriat PS Case No. 11(01)2026.
Reclamation
