Meghalaya orders probe into missing 4,000 MT of coal, High Court report triggers alarm

The Meghalaya government has launched a high-level investigation into the suspected misappropriation of more than 4,000 metric tonnes (MT) of coal from official stockyards, following a report by a committee appointed by the Meghalaya High Court.

Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who also holds the Home portfolio, confirmed the development on Saturday, stating that instructions have been issued to all district administrations and police to probe the matter thoroughly.

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“We’ve directed all deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to verify if there has been any illegal diversion or misappropriation of coal,” Tynsong told reporters. “If any malpractice is confirmed, action will be taken as per law. If required, we are even prepared to take the matter to the Supreme Court.”

The missing coal, which had been previously declared as extracted and inventoried at two designated stockpile locations, was found untraceable during physical verification. The revelation comes as a major embarrassment to the state government, especially amid ongoing scrutiny over illegal coal mining and transportation in Meghalaya.

The committee report submitted to the High Court raised serious doubts over the credibility of the state’s coal inventory system and its enforcement mechanisms. It highlighted the loopholes that continue to allow illegal mining and transportation, despite several judicial directives in the past.

The government’s inquiry will involve extensive field verification, including the tracking of both coal and diesel inventories—critical components often used to monitor illegal mining activity. Officials have also been tasked with examining transportation logs, documentation of consignments, and the roles of various departments.

A senior official said that a comprehensive report on the findings would be submitted to the High Court in due course, as directed.

Meghalaya’s coal mining industry has been under the scanner since 2014, when the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a blanket ban on rat-hole mining, citing unscientific and hazardous practices. While the Supreme Court later allowed conditional coal mining under stringent guidelines, illegal mining has reportedly continued in many pockets of the state.

Several watchdog groups and civil society organizations have repeatedly raised concerns about rampant coal smuggling, illegal transportation through backdoor routes, and poor oversight by local authorities. This latest revelation has reignited public and judicial concern over how coal—considered a key economic resource in the hill state—is being handled.