A judicial committee has called for a thorough investigation into the August 24 near Meghalaya's capital, Shillong. The incident has once again raised alarms about ongoing illegal mining and the movement of coal across the northeastern Indian state.
The Justice (retired) B. P. Katakey Committee, set up by the High Court of Meghalaya, asked for this probe after it was found that the truck lacked a crucial Mineral Transport Challan. This document, usually issued by the Directorate of Mineral Resources, is necessary for legal coal shipments. The committee's request, detailed in its 40th Interim Report, is aimed at determining whether the coal was legally auctioned or extracted illegally.
the overturned truck was on its way from Nongstoin in Meghalaya’s West Khasi Hills district to Guwahati in neighboring Assam. The truck operator later presented documents to the police, claiming the coal had been legally auctioned and belonged to a successful bidder for 8,338.374 metric tonnes.
The operator also provided a photocopy of a Mineral Transport Challan, but it was for a different truck. He explained that the original truck had broken down, necessitating the use of the one involved in the accident. However, police noted the operator couldn't produce the original challan for either truck, violating the Standard Operating Procedure for transporting auctioned coal.
Since April 2014, Meghalaya has been under a ban on hazardous rat-hole coal mining, imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). This ban was upheld by the Supreme Court, which allowed scientific mining only under strict statutory compliance. While Coal India Limited was permitted to auction coal mined and stored before the 2014 ban, numerous disasters and related deaths have highlighted ongoing illegal mining activities in the state.
The committee has directed the police to submit a status report on the coal's origin within two weeks, starting from September 4. It also questioned why authorities have not begun confiscation proceedings, despite seizing 92 items of equipment and 62 vehicles in cases related to illegal coal trade filed between 2023 and August 2026.
The Meghalaya Police provided data showing 64 cases of illegal coal transportation and 127 cases of illegal extraction were registered statewide during this four-year period. The committee also pointed out a notable lack of action against landowners and mine owners, with only four cases pursued in the East Jaintia Hills district.
