The technical team examined existing mining practices and assessed the scope for conducting operations in accordance with scientific methods, safety standards, environmental safeguards and applicable legal requirements.
Shillong, Oct 11: A Central team has carried out inspection in coal rich areas of Khasi-Jaintia Hills to check feasibility of revising coal mining norms to address concern of small miners in Meghalaya.
The visit of the team from Union Ministry of Coal followed Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s meeting with Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy in New Delhi on July 7, 2026.
During the meeting, Sangma raised concerns over the plight of coal-dependent families and explored options for reviving the sector.
Although the blanket ban on coal mining in Meghalaya was lifted by the Supreme Court in 2019, the new norms for scientific coal mining, especially the minimum required area, have prevented small miners to resume their businesses.
The team, accompanied by officials of Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL), Directorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS) and the state’s Directorate of Mineral Resources, visited the areas last week as part of ongoing discussions between the Centre and the state government on restarting small-scale coal mining.
During the visit, the technical team examined existing mining practices and assessed the scope for conducting operations in accordance with scientific methods, safety standards, environmental safeguards and applicable legal requirements.
They subsequently met senior state government officials to discuss the challenges faced by local miners, the technical requirements for scientific mining and the need to adapt mining practices to Meghalaya’s geology and landholding patterns.
The discussions also covered the safety and environmental conditions that would need to be met before any resumption of mining operations could be considered.
“Our government is committed to exploring viable options to restart coal mining in Meghalaya, balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility,” Sangma said.
He added that cooperation between the Ministry of Coal and local miners could help develop a framework for safe, scientific and sustainable mining.
Further assessments and follow-up meetings are expected in the coming weeks. The Directorate of Mineral Resources will coordinate with the Union ministry and other concerned departments to take the process forward.
The inspection is part of the feasibility assessment process and does not, by itself, signal the resumption of coal mining in Meghalaya.
