Shillong, Dec 29: In a historic milestone, a train carrying legally mined coal departed Mendipathar Railway Station in North Garo Hills today, marking the state’s first-ever coal dispatch by rail.
The coal, sourced from a licensed quarry in Shallang, West Khasi Hills, was transported 120km via Rongjeng, Songsak and Soksan before being loaded onto 42 containers bound for New Delhi.
The first batch of nearly 2,500 tonnes was flagged off by Mendipathar legislator Marthon J Sangma, who highlighted the significance of the move.
“All coal transport adhered to legal procedures, with trucks carrying verified loads and government-issued challans,” Sangma said, adding that rail transport will reduce costs, improve efficiency and make legally mined coal more affordable.
The initiative is expected to boost Meghalaya’s economy through royalty and tax revenue while supporting Indian Railways by enhancing Mendipathar Station’s utility. “This benefits miners, consumers, and the state,” Sangma noted.
This positive coal story contrasts with the almost weekly allegations of illegally mined coal being transported from Meghalaya to other states, much of it originating in Garo Hills but also from Khasi-Jaintia Hills.
