Meghalaya probing disappearance of coal from depots

GUWAHATI

The Meghalaya government has begun probing the disappearance of 3,960.95 metric tonnes of coal from two designated depots, the State’s Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said on Saturday (August 2, 2025).

Authorities in the Ri-Bhoi and West Khasi Hills districts had been directed to conduct a thorough investigation, Mr. Tynsong said. According to a report submitted by Justice (retired) B.P. Katakey Committee to the High Court of Meghalaya in July, the coal was found missing from the Diengngan and Rajaju villages in these two districts.

The High Court had appointed the committee to assess the extent of illegal mining and transportation of coal in Meghalaya. The National Green Tribunal banned the hazardous practice of rat-hole coal mining in the State in April 2014.

“The Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of the districts concerned have been asked to investigate what happened to the coal in the depots,” Mr. Tynsong, also in-charge of the Home portfolio, said.

The coal missing from the two designated storage sites had been declared as extracted and inventoried, indicating theft or diversion by people involved in illegal mining and transportation activities, the Katakey panel stated.

One of Mr. Tynsong’s Cabinet colleagues, State Excise Minister Kyrmen Shylla, said a few days ago that the coal from the two depots could have been washed away by rain.