Shillong, Sept 19: In a bid to stop illegal coal mining in the state, the single-member committee headed by Justice (retd) BP Katakey has recommended for carrying out regular aerial surveys in certain areas to monitor and detect illegal coal mining activities.
To a request in this regard, the North Eastern Space Application Centre (NESAC) had informed Mining and Geology Department about non-availability of any recent high resolution Indian satellite images showing coal dump areas in East Jaintia, South West Khasi, West Khasi, South Garo and East Khasi Hills, and Ri-Bhoi districts.
The NESAC, however, had sent a screenshot of availability of foreign high resolution satellite data of Meghalaya and adjacent region between January 2023 and May 2024, the committee appointed by Meghalaya High Court stated in its 25th report.
In its previous report, the committee appointed by Meghalaya High Court stated about the need to involve NESAC in the process of conducting the aerial survey to find availability of coal, other than the re-assessed/re-verified inventoried coal already transported to the designated depots and also the coal already seized under the provisions of the MMDR Act, 1957.
The committee also sought an urgent meeting between NESAC, Mining and Geology Department, and the committee, to find out the ways and means to conduct the aerial survey.
Besides, the committee sought a report on the allegations received by it about the continued illegal coal mining activities, including transportation of illegally mined coal, in South West Khasi Hills district.
Meanwhile, a report submitted by Deputy Commissioner, Dhubri, was furnished by the Mining and Geology department on 11 August 2024, but it was not accepted by the Committee.
Following this, the committee had urged the chief secretary and secretary, Mining and Geology to conduct fresh verification relating to the alleged continued illegal mining activities in the district and to submit a report within a fortnight.
Reading of the report by additional deputy commissioner stated: “The coal mine belt in the district covers a very remote and extensive area. The terrain is extremely difficult and mostly non-motorable by normal vehicle. There are also countless abandoned coal mines some of which could be easily reactivated in a very short time period…. It is, therefore, requested that permission technical assistance and logistical support may be provided to enable the undersigned to explosively seal the entrance of some of the mines in order to prevent re-activation of some of the easy to re-activate mines and also to provide deterrence against re-activation of illegal coal mining.
“It is further recommended that strict instructions should be made to the officer in-charge of the police station/outpost in the Coal Belt areas so that illegal mining does not occur at any point of time and personal responsibility should be fixed against such officer if illegal mining is detected in the future,” he added.
Another inquiry report submitted by ADC, Ranikor and assistant commissioner, South West Khasi Hills has revealed carrying out of mining activities in recent times in a few very remote areas in Nongjri area.
It stated: “Upon reaching Nongjri area, the team did not find any active mines in the area. In few spots along the area. Some coal can be seen which look like abandoned coal. Temporary settlements/shacks can also be seen in the area but it looks like they have mostly been abandoned and no one could be found there during the time of inspection…”
A joint report by the same officers, upon conducting an enquiry at Diengngan on 4 and 5 September 2024, has revealed presence of temporary settlements in the area and signs of recent mining activities in few of the places difficult to reach, which however appear to be abandoned and as no one could be found on the dates of inspection.
