Spotlight on illegal coal trade in Meghalaya after truck accident

A road accident involving a coal-laden truck has reignited the debate on illegal mining and transportation of the fossil fuel in Meghalaya. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned hazardous rat-hole coal mining in the State in April 2014.

The Supreme Court upheld the ban while allowing scientific mining under strict statutory compliance. However, a series of disasters and associated deaths have pointed to rampant illegal coal mining. In its 40th Interim Report submitted to the High Court of Meghalaya recently, the Justice (retired) B.P.

Katakey Committee sought a detailed inquiry into whether the coal transported in a truck involved in an accident near Meghalaya’s capital, Shillong, on the morning of August 24 was legally auctioned or illegally mined. The NGT and the apex court had allowed Coal India Limited to auction coal that was mined and stocked before the 2014 ban.

The committee, appointed by the High Court, called for a probe after finding that the vehicle lacked the mandatory Mineral Transport Challan issued by the Directorate of Mineral Resources. According to the State Police, the truck that overturned was being driven from Nongstoin in Meghalaya’s West Khasi Hills district toward Assam’s Guwahati.

The truck operator appeared before the police station concerned and produced documents, claiming that the coal was auctioned and belonged to a successful bidder for 8,338.374 metric tonnes. The operator also produced a photocopy of a Mineral Transport Challan for another truck, claiming that it had to be replaced by another (the one that met with the accident) following a breakdown, the police said.

The operator, however, could not produce the original challan for either truck. According to the committee, this violated the Standard Operating Procedure governing the transportation of auctioned coal. It called for a probe to establish the origin of the transported coal and asked the police to submit a status report within a fortnight from September 4.

The panel further sought to know why the authorities have not undertaken the confiscation process despite seizing 92 items of equipment and 62 vehicles, in cases related to illegal coal trade registered between 2023 and August 2026.

Information furnished by the Meghalaya Police revealed that 64 cases relating to illegal transportation and 127 cases relating to illegal extraction of coal were registered across the State during these four years. The committee also flagged the lack of action against landowners and mine owners, except for four cases in East Jaintia Hills district.