A technical team from the Union Coal Ministry has inspected coal-bearing areas in Meghalaya to assess the feasibility of restarting small-scale mining, more than a decade after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned rat-hole mining in the state in 2014.
The team, comprising officials from the Coal Ministry, Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL) and Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS), visited mining areas in East Jaintia Hills and the Khasi Hills last week, accompanied by officials from Meghalaya’s Directorate of Mineral Resources.
Director of Mineral Resources M. P. Tongper said the inspection was part of ongoing discussions between the state government and the Centre to explore possibilities for resuming small-scale coal mining in accordance with environmental regulations, mining safety standards and legal requirements.
During the visit, the team examined existing mining practices and assessed whether operations could be carried out using scientific methods suited to Meghalaya’s geological conditions and landholding patterns. Discussions were also held with senior state government officials on the challenges faced by local miners and the technical, safety and environmental safeguards required for regulated mining.
The assessment follows efforts by the Meghalaya government to explore options for reviving coal mining, which remains an important source of livelihood for many families in the state.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma met Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy in New Delhi on July 7 to discuss the concerns of coal-dependent families and examine possible ways to restart the sector.
The latest inspection also comes amid scrutiny over the state’s coal stock. A committee appointed by the Meghalaya High Court recently called for a detailed inquiry into the reported shortage of approximately 13.02 lakh metric tonnes of inventoried coal, equivalent to around 52,000 truckloads, and sought accountability for the missing stock.
The findings of the technical team are expected to inform further discussions between the state government and the Centre on the viability of small-scale mining. Any resumption of operations, however, would have to comply with applicable legal provisions, environmental safeguards and mine safety requirements.
Further technical assessments and consultations between the two governments are expected in the coming weeks, with the Directorate of Mineral Resources coordinating with the Union Coal Ministry and other concerned departments.