A committee appointed by the Meghalaya High Court has documented a shortage of 13,02,456.184 metric tonnes of coal in the state. The 41st interim report, led by retired Justice B.P. Katakey, calls for an inquiry to determine who is responsible for the missing coal.
The discrepancy arises between the state’s reported extraction of 32,56,715 MT and the physical verification by Deputy Commissioners, which found 19,54,258.816 MT on the ground. Even if the Deputy Commissioners’ figures are accepted, the committee says the shortage remains undisputed. An aerial assessment reportedly lowered the figure further, equating the gap to about 52,000 truckloads of 25 tonnes each, which would take roughly 520 days to move at 100 trucks a day.
The committee’s mandate, established in April 2022, is to monitor compliance with Supreme Court, National Green Tribunal and High Court directions. The Supreme Court’s 2019 ruling made the state government the receiver of extracted coal, directing it to be auctioned to Coal India Limited under regulated conditions. The committee notes that the state has not fully accepted explanations for the difference, including variations between physical measurements and drone surveys or coal that was auctioned or seized.
The report also highlights 37,449.53 tonnes of illegally mined coal found outside Coal India depots, with only 4,141.83 tonnes initially charged with FIRs. By September, the state claimed all had been registered, but the committee noted a lack of police case numbers and investigation updates. Additionally, no rat‑hole mine openings have been closed or fenced, and abandoned pits remain unsecured.
In response, the state has notified revised transport procedures for scientifically mined coal and has seized 62 vehicles and 92 pieces of equipment in illegal mining cases. However, only one confiscation proceeding under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act has begun, and environmental restoration projects for the Kyrhuhkhla and Lunar rivers remain stalled due to insufficient proposals. The committee seeks timelines for accountability, closure of abandoned openings, completion of criminal proceedings, and stronger reporting systems to address these unresolved issues.
