Meghalaya Coal Vanishing Act: Nature or Negligence?

The Meghalaya High Court made a stern appeal to the state government regarding the vanishing of over 4,000 tonnes of coal, as a minister blamed heavy rainfall for potentially sweeping it away. The court has urged the government to hold officials accountable for the lack of oversight leading to the coal's disappearance.

Excise Minister Kyrmen Shylla cited Meghalaya's highest rainfall as a potential reason for the coal loss. 'Due to rain, the coal might have swept away, but it needs verification,' he told reporters. Despite the suggestion, the minister admitted there's insufficient evidence to definitively attribute the loss to natural events or illegal mining activities.

Shylla emphasized adherence to legal mining practices, urging authorities to prevent illegal operations. He expressed hope for residents' compliance, especially after the scientific mining initiative. The ban on coal mining by the NGT in 2014 was due to dangerous practices. Environmental and safety concerns led to the tribunal's decision against unregulated mining methods.

(With inputs from agencies.)