Shillong, May 4: A high court-appointed committee has accused two cement companies in Meghalaya of transporting nearly 2.93 lakh metric tonnes of coal without valid approvals, flagging serious violations of prescribed norms.

The single-member panel, headed by retired judge B P Katakey, reported that the companies moved coal into the state between February 2025 and February 2026 without securing mandatory clearances under the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), 2024. Although applications for permission were filed in April last year for the period April 2025 to March 2026, no approval was granted by the competent authority.

The committee highlighted multiple lapses, including failure to obtain prior approval, non-submission of weekly returns, and absence of crucial documents such as mineral transport challans, tax invoices, e-way bills, certificates of origin, and weighment details. It also cited an accident in East Jaintia Hills on March 4 this year, noting that coal was being transported without authorization at the time.

Justice Katakey’s report underscored gaps in enforcement, pointing out that investigating agencies had not examined the role of landowners in areas where illegal mining was detected. The panel recommended strict enforcement of SOP provisions, verification of transport documents, and detailed investigations into violations.

To strengthen monitoring, the committee suggested GPS tracking of vehicles, colour-coded identification systems, designated transport routes, and integrated smart checkpoints. It further advised expanding enforcement strategies from East Jaintia Hills to other coal-bearing regions to curb illegal mining and transportation across the state.