Digjyoti Lahkar
Guwahati, July 30: Transportation of scientifically-mined coal has begun in Meghalaya with a Khasi syiem flagging off two coal-laden trucks – one for Bihar and the other for Uttar Pradesh – at 17th Mile, Byrnihat in Ri-Bhoi district on Wednesday.
Resumption of coal mining and transport, banned by National Green Tribunal (NGT) over a decade ago, is expected to reduce the burden of India’s coal import. Prior to the 2014 ban, coal mining generated approximately Rs 700 crore in annual revenue for Meghalaya.
For the coal transport, a commercial transition site was started by Dapmain Shylla, owner of the mining lease at Saryngkham-A coal mine at Byndihati in East Jaintia Hills district, which was by Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma recently.
Earlier, agreements were signed between the Centre and three miners from Meghalaya in January 2024 to start scientific coal mining as per the NGT order.
The NGT imposed a blanket ban on coal mining in Meghalaya in 2014 due to widespread safety and environmental concerns associated with traditional, unscientific “rat-hole” mining.
This practice had resulted in numerous miners fatalities, particularly in the coal-rich Jaintia Hills region.
However, the state government successfully petitioned at the Supreme Court and the NGT ban was lifted in 2019.
The traders from states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh participated in Wednesday’s trading where the locals expressed their happiness which will boost the economy of the region.
The state government and Coal India Limited till now appointed 12 lessees for scientific mining of coal.
The transportation with legal valid GST papers will also stop illegal coal trade where traders have to pay Rs 3 lakh to cross Meghalaya, Assam, West Bengal andolan Bihar as goonda tax.
