Shillong: A pivotal chapter unfolded in Meghalaya’s industrial landscape as Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma announced the virtual inauguration of the state’s inaugural scientific coal mine, located in East Jaintia Hills. The announcement, disseminated via a tweet on Monday, signals a significant departure from the decade-long ban on traditional coal mining practices.
“After almost a decade of ban on coal mining, we have today inaugurated the first scientific coal mine in East Jaintia Hills. Truly a historic and red letter day for the people of Meghalaya,” the Chief Minister declared in his social media post on March 17. This milestone follows the landmark escrow agreements inked between the central government and three state miners in January 2025, laying the groundwork for the resumption of coal extraction under regulated and environmentally sound protocols.
The inauguration comes ten years after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a ban on the hazardous “rat-hole mining” methods prevalent in the region. This traditional practice, characterized by narrow, low-ceiling tunnels, had resulted in a significant number of fatalities and severe environmental degradation. The NGT’s intervention was a direct response to these safety and ecological concerns.
Prior to the 2014 ban, coal mining constituted a crucial economic pillar for Meghalaya, contributing approximately Rs 700 crore annually to the state’s revenue. The recent agreements, facilitated by the Controller of Coal, Government of India, and involving project proponents from West Khasi Hills and East Jaintia Hills districts, represent a concerted effort to revitalize this sector while adhering to stringent safety and environmental standards. Coal India Limited serves as a crucial third party in these escrow agreements, which are legally binding contracts designed to safeguard assets until predetermined conditions are fulfilled.
Chief Minister Sangma, in his January statements, underscored the “significant stride” these escrow agreements represented in aiding coal miners to navigate the NGT’s stringent restrictions. He also disclosed that 12 additional applications for scientific coal mining are progressing through advanced stages of approval, highlighting the state government’s unwavering commitment to the responsible and sustainable revival of the coal mining industry.
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