Shillong, June 3: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday said abandoned coal mines remain a major cause of concern in the State, noting that there are over 21,000 such sites in a single district and nearly 25,000 across Meghalaya spread across multiple locations. He observed that physically inspecting all these sites is nearly impossible, as many of them have existed for centuries and are located in difficult terrain. He said the situation is a legacy issue inherited over time and stressed that the government is working through multiple challenges while prioritising a balanced approach between livelihood, safety and environmental protection.
The Chief Minister said the State is operating under multiple constraints in dealing with the legacy of unregulated and illegal coal mining that has persisted for decades across Meghalaya. He noted that coal mining continues to remain an important source of livelihood for several communities, even as environmental and safety concerns necessitate stricter oversight and regulated practices. He added that the government is working towards a practical mechanism in consultation with the Government of India, though the process is expected to remain gradual.
He further observed that the scale of abandoned mining sites and the historical nature of the practice do not allow for an immediate or perfect solution, and the State is instead focusing on incremental progress while strengthening regulatory coordination with central authorities.
“The alleged illegal Coal Mining in the state of Meghalaya will always be a challenge and we are working with constraints with difficulties and we need to balance out all aspects.”
“So therefore that is what we are trying to achieve and therefore in the process there will never be a kind of a perfect system that will be able to achieve.”
“We are hopeful that slowly steadily things will reach to a point where we will be able to really balance out things in a much more better and perfect manner,” Conrad K Sangma said.
On scientific coal mining, he informed that the Government of India has permitted larger mines of around 100 hectares, with operations already underway in some of them. Four such mines have received approval and three are currently operational, with coal from scientifically mined sites already entering export channels. He said the structured mining framework has begun but is still in its early phase.
He also highlighted that smaller miners remain a major concern, as many lack adequate operational area and formal clearances. The State, he said, is pursuing approvals from the Centre to extend regulated permissions to smaller mining units, but refrained from sharing detailed updates until final clearances are obtained.
Reiterating the government’s position, he stressed that the focus remains on achieving a workable balance between livelihood needs, miner safety and environmental sustainability as the State continues its engagement with central authorities for a phased resolution.
CM flags challenges in abandoned coal mines, underscores need for balance between livelihood, safety and environment
