Shillong, Aug 7: After more than a decade where no coal mining took place – legally anyway – in Meghalaya, the scientific coal extraction has begun at two centrally-sanctioned coal blocks in the state.
The National Green Tribunal banned the prevalent rat-hole mining in the state in 2014 due to the environmental damage, though such a practice also accounted for the lives of numerous miners in unsafe conditions.
On Thursday the Union Ministry of Coal informed that it has successfully facilitated the commencement of scientific coal mining in Meghalaya.
The two coal blocks that have begun production after receiving due approvals are Saryngkham A in East Jaintia Hills and Pyndengshahlang in West Khasi Hills.
At the former, permission was granted on March 10, 2025, and production started on June 3, 2025. At Pyndengshahlang, permission was given on May 2 and production started on June 5.
The Ministry stated that it looks forward to the active cooperation of all state governments in furthering scientific coal mining and streamlining coal transportation across the region.
The state government is pinning its hopes on the return of coal mining to boost the economy, the state’s coffers and boost employment. Even during the ban on rat-hole coal mining, however, illegal extraction and transportation of coal has been a continuing menace that the state government has been unable or unwilling to do much about.
