Fri Jul 25 22:20:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text, followed by a rewritten version as a news article:
**Summary:**
The Meghalaya High Court has demanded the state government investigate the disappearance of approximately 3,950 metric tonnes of illegally mined coal from two government-designated depots. A report submitted to the court highlighted the discrepancy between the amount of coal recorded and the amount found during a recent inspection. The court expressed concern over the unauthorized removal of the coal and ordered the government to identify and hold accountable those responsible, as well as trace the individuals who illegally transported the coal. The incident underscores the ongoing issue of illegal coal mining in Meghalaya, despite a ban imposed in 2014, and the lack of effective enforcement, which has led to accidents and fatalities in dangerous rat-hole mines.
**News Article:**
**Meghalaya High Court Demands Probe into Missing Coal Amid Illegal Mining Concerns**
*Guwahati, July 26, 2025* – The High Court of Meghalaya has issued a stern directive to the state government, demanding a thorough investigation into the disappearance of nearly 3,950 metric tonnes of illegally mined coal from two government-controlled depots. The missing coal was brought to the court’s attention in a recent report submitted by Justice B.P. Katakey, a retired judge monitoring coal mining and transportation issues in the state.
The discrepancy was discovered following an inspection of coal depots in Diengngan and Rajaju villages. Authorities found a mere fraction of the coal initially recorded by the Meghalaya Basin Development Authority (MBDA). In Diengngan, only 2.5 MT of coal residue was found, compared to an initial inventory of 1,839.03 MT. Similarly, Rajaju’s depot held only 8 MT of residue against a previously recorded 2,121.62 MT.
A division bench of the High Court, led by Justices H.S. Thangkhiew and W. Diengdoh, expressed alarm over the unauthorized removal of the coal. In an official order, the court mandated the government to “take urgent action and hold accountable the persons or officials, under whose watch” the coal was allowed to be lifted. The government is also tasked with identifying and tracing those involved in the illegal transportation of the missing coal.
The court criticized the government’s initial response, which consisted mainly of filing First Information Reports (FIRs) without providing further details or progress updates.
The case highlights the ongoing challenges in curbing illegal coal mining in Meghalaya, despite a ban on the hazardous “rat-hole” mining technique imposed by the National Green Tribunal in 2014. Organizations within the state have asserted that the ban has been largely ineffective, with illegal mining and transportation continuing unabated. This has led to numerous accidents in the poorly regulated mines, resulting in the deaths of at least 40 miners over the past decade. Many of these miners are drawn from neighboring Assam by the promise of high wages.
Reports also suggest that illegally mined coal is being used to replenish inventories in the depots, even after legal auctions and transportation, further highlighting the scale of the problem. The High Court’s intervention underscores the growing urgency to address illegal mining and ensure accountability within the system.
First Piper 