Guwahati, Aug. 13 -- The source of coal supplied to coke oven plants in Meghalaya's South West Khasi Hills district has come under fresh scrutiny after a High Court-appointed audit committee found that authorities had not verified whether coal procured within the state was legally sourced.

The development comes as the Meghalaya High Court continues to monitor the state's coal sector following the National Green Tribunal's 2014 ban on rat-hole coal mining. The court has been overseeing compliance through a committee headed by retired Justice B P Katakey.

During a recent hearing, the Coal Audit Committee reported that the South West Khasi Hills district administration identified 10 coke oven plants during an inspection conducted on June 1...