Shillong: Authorities in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills have uncovered a massive stockpile of coal and explosives, shedding light on the large-scale illegal mining that continues to flout the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ban.
During recent operations, officials seized more than 17,000 metric tonnes of coal along with over 25 kilograms of explosives, confirming that prohibited rat-hole mining is still active in the district.
This evidence counters claims that transported coal consists of “old stock,” pointing instead to current, high-risk mining activities.
The district police, on the night of February 20, intercepted 12 trucks carrying illegally mined coal. These seizures are part of an ongoing enforcement campaign that has so far resulted in 94 FIRs and the arrest of 22 individuals.
Superintendent of Police Pankaj Kumar Rasgania noted that the scale of the haul is extraordinary, as transporting such quantities would involve hundreds of truck movements, raising concerns about how such a vast network could operate despite multiple road checkpoints.
The discovery of industrial-grade explosives indicates that the illegal coal trade remains deeply rooted in the area.
Police have pledged to intensify operations, targeting the supply chains that undermine NGT regulations and sustain underground mining operations.