SHILLONG – Ten years after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) put a halt to all coal mining activities in Meghalaya, citing severe environmental damage and unsafe ‘rat-hole’ practices, the state has now officially resurrected its coal industry. This time, however, the comeback is under a stringent new framework of scientific and regulated mining, marking a significant and carefully orchestrated shift. The resumption of operations has been hailed as a triumph of legal and environmental due diligence, promising to balance economic benefits with ecological sustainability.
The new era of mining began in June, with two coal blocks receiving the green signal from the Ministry of Coal to start production. The Saryngkham A Coal Block in the East Jaintia Hills district and the Pyndengshahlang Coal Block in the West Khasi Hills district are the first to get the nod under the new dispensation. The Saryngkham block received its official opening permission on March 10, 2025, and began production on June 3, 2025. Similarly, the Pyndengshahlang block, given permission on May 2, 2025, commenced its operations on June 5, 2025.
The NGT’s ban, imposed in April 2014, was a landmark decision that underscored the devastating consequences of unregulated mining. The tribunal had highlighted rampant environmental degradation, widespread water contamination, and the perilous working conditions associated with the ‘rat-hole’ method, which involved workers, often children, squeezing into narrow, makeshift tunnels. This practice, the NGT had observed, flouted environmental laws and posed a serious threat to the health and safety of both workers and local communities.
Years of meticulous regulatory efforts and legal back-and-forth have now culminated in this new, scientific approach. The Ministry of Coal, in a statement, called this a “milestone” and a testament to its commitment to promoting legal, safe, and environmentally sound mining. The ministry’s vision extends beyond Meghalaya, with a call for cooperation from all state governments to further scientific coal mining and enhance the transportation infrastructure in the entire North-East region. The hope is that these concerted efforts will not only bolster the country’s energy security but also serve as a catalyst for economic development in the region’s states.