Meghalaya coal mining could see a regulated revival after a technical team from the Union ministry of coal inspected coal-bearing areas in East Jaintia Hills and Khasi Hills to assess whether small-scale operations can restart under India’s legal, safety and environmental rules.
The team, accompanied by officials from Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Ltd (CMPDI), the Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) and Meghalaya’s Directorate of Mineral Resources, visited the two districts last week. The inspection formed part of ongoing discussions between the Centre and the Meghalaya government on developing a safer and scientifically managed framework for coal mining in the state.
According to a government statement, the officials examined existing mining practices and assessed whether operations could resume within the applicable legal and regulatory framework. The discussions also covered the technical, safety and environmental conditions required for mining in Meghalaya, where the state’s geology and landholding pattern create specific challenges for the design and regulation of extraction.
The review follows the National Green Tribunal’s ban on rat-hole coal mining in Meghalaya in April 2014. The tribunal had acted over concerns about environmental damage, water pollution and fatal safety risks associated with the mining method. The ban brought greater scrutiny to the way coal was extracted and transported in the state, particularly in areas where mining had been carried out through narrow, unsafe shafts.
The latest assessment also follows Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s meeting with Union minister for coal and mines G Kishan Reddy in New Delhi on July 7. Sangma sought the revival of coal mining to support families dependent on the sector, while stressing that any restart would have to comply strictly with environmental and safety regulations.
“Our government is committed to exploring viable options to restart coal mining in Meghalaya, balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility,” Sangma said.
The government’s stated approach places the proposed revival between two competing requirements: providing an economic pathway for coal-dependent families and preventing the environmental and safety failures associated with unregulated extraction. The inspection by the Union ministry, CMPDI, DGMS and the state mineral resources directorate is intended to establish whether a form of small-scale mining can meet those requirements.
For local communities, the outcome will depend on the technical findings and the regulatory process that follows. The government statement did not announce a final approval, operating date, production target or confirmed mining plan. It said only that the team was assessing feasibility and discussing the conditions needed for any possible resumption.
The Directorate of Mineral Resources said it would continue coordinating with the Union ministry of coal and other departments to take the process forward. Any further decision on restarting mining will therefore require continued coordination between state and central authorities, along with compliance with the legal, safety and environmental requirements identified during the assessment.
