E-Paper
Meghalaya panel seeks demolition of illegal Coke Plants, FIRs against 21
The panel said non-demolition of such illegal coke oven plants increases the possibility of use of coal sourced from illegal mining in the state
Shillong: The Justice (Retd) B.P. Katakey Committee, appointed by the Meghalaya high court, has come down heavily on illegal mining activities and non-compliant industrial units in the state, recommending demolition of 33 illegal Coke Oven Plants and lodging of FIRs against 21 individuals who falsely claimed to have extracted coal in West Khasi Hills district.
In its 33rd interim report submitted before the high court, the committee said that 22 applicants from West Khasi Hills had claimed to have extracted coal, but physical verification revealed that only one claim was genuine. “(The committee recommends) immediate lodging of the FIR against 21 persons, out of 22, who have filed the application dated 28/05/2024 and claimed to have extracted the coal but on physical verification no coal was found,” it stated.
The panel directed authorities to pursue the cases to their logical conclusion and take necessary action under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, in relation to 5,946 metric tonnes of coal linked to the application filed by one Shri C. Dkhar and 21 others. It also urged the state government to act against applicants who claimed their coal deposits were missed during an earlier survey by M/S Garuda UAV, though no coal was found during inspection.
Meanwhile, the committee said that in the case of 37 applicants from East Jaiñtia Hills, a fresh aerial survey was decided to be carried out but is yet to be completed.
On illegal Coke Oven Plants, the committee recommended demolition of 33 such units — 16 in East Jaiñtia Hills and 17 in West Khasi Hills — within a week, warning that their continued existence “increases the possibility of use of raw material, i.e., coal sourced from illegal mining in the State.”
The recommendation is based on a Supreme Court order dated November 25, 2024, which directed demolition of Coke Oven Plants that do not meet siting norms.
The Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) reported that nine Coke Oven Plants in West Khasi Hills are currently non-operational, while 17 others that failed to meet siting criteria are also shut.
The Katakey Committee has further recommended quarterly inspections by the MSPCB to ensure that no illegal plant is re-established or operated.
The state government has been asked to submit a compliance report within a week, while the MSPCB and the Mining and Geology Department must file action-taken reports every three months.
Efforts to solicit a response from the state government on the committee’s latest recommendations have not yet fructified.
