The Independent Committee overseeing the auction of coal, under the guidance of Justice (retired) BP Katakey, held a thorough interrogation of coke factories concerning the origins of the coal used in their plants.

According to an official source, out of the 19 companies queried about the source of their coal supply, the Committee found that approximately 5 to 6 companies are procuring coal in accordance with their operational needs. Moreover, it was verified that these firms comply with the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regulations when obtaining coal from their suppliers, and this procurement data aligns with information available on the GST portal.

While some of these units have been requested to provide supporting documentation, others have asked for additional time to respond to the Committee's inquiry.

Meanwhile, Coal India Limited has received instructions to auction the coal stocked in authorized depots in East Jaintia Hills, West Jaintia Hills, South Garo Hills, and South West Khasi Hills. The Independent Committee is also prepared to auction the remaining inventory of coal amounting to 5.99 lakh metric tonnes.

In parallel, the Committee has discussed the implementation of smart checkpoints to curb the illegal transportation of coal and other minerals. Due to the considerable challenge in acquiring land in Meghalaya, the respective deputy commissioners have been directed to procure land for advanced checkpoint facilities at various locations.

To date, approximately 8 to 9 out of the state's 18 to 19 smart checkpoints have been constructed in areas such as Umling, Dainadubi, and Ratacherra.