for website: SHILLONG, DEC 4: The Justice BP Katakey Committee has asked the Chief Secretary to issue directions to ensure the stoppage of illegal mining activities in East Jaintia Hills District.
Additionally, the committee has directed the district Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police to identify vulnerable areas and increase patrolling to stop illegal coal mining.
This came after a complaint was recently lodged by the VPP legislator from Mawlai Brightstarwell Marbaniang against ongoing illegal coal mining in Lumbangla village.
In its 34th interim report submitted to the Meghalaya High Court, the Justice BP Katakey Committee has criticized the district administration and police in East Jaintia Hills for failing to curb illegal coal mining in Lumbangla village, despite a ban imposed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2014 and a Supreme Court judgment in 2019.
“The Committee, having regard to the fact that the illegal coal mining activities in East Jaintia Hills District being most, which is also presently going on, recommends identification of the vulnerable areas /villages where illegal coal mining activities generally occur, by the Deputy Commissioner with the help of the Superintendent of Police of the district and to increase the patrolling of those identified areas on regular basis,” Katakey said in his report, adding “All ingress and egress of the said areas are also required to be guarded and secured so that no illegally mined coal can be transported out of those vulnerable areas/villages.”
He also directed that the said exercise needs be supervised by the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police themselves personally, who shall submit their monthly detailed report including the action taken to stop illegal coal mining activities as well as the action taken, as per law, wherever illegal coal mining activities are found, to the Chief Secretary or his authorized representatives, who shall not be below the rank of Additional Chief Secretary.
“The Chief Secretary/ Additional Chief Secretary shall issue necessary direction, from time to time, to ensure stoppage of illegal coal mining activities in East Jaintia Hills District,” Katakey added.
The Katakey Committee has flagged discrepancies in the registration of an FIR related to illegal coal mining in Lumbangla village.
According to the committee’s report, an FIR was received on September 28, 2025, but the case was registered on October 6, 2025, raising doubts about the authenticity of the endorsement by the Officer-in-Charge of Khliehriat Police Station.
The report also highlights the seizure of only two coal dumps, despite evidence of large-scale mining and the presence of tools and equipment at the site.
The committee has questioned how the police failed to detect the illegal coal mine and extraction activities.
The committee’s findings indicate that the mine has been operational for a long time, with reinforced cement concrete boundaries and coal dumps containing about 2112 MT of illegally mined coal.
The incident reflects poorly on the district administration and police, who have failed to curb illegal coal mining despite a 2014 NGT ban and a 2019 Supreme Court judgment.