Correspondent
Shillong: Nearly 4,000 metric tonnes of coal have reportedly gone missing from two government-monitored depots in Meghalaya, raising serious concerns about the efficacy of oversight mechanisms. The critical questions now are not just how—but who enabled—such a colossal breach? Was it due to administrative negligence, political complicity, or systemic failure? And most importantly, can the public still trust the very system meant to safeguard state resources?
The startling revelation came to light through the 31st interim report submitted by the Justice (Retd) B.P. Katakey Committee, which was appointed by the court to recommend measures for coal regulation in the state. The latest findings have reignited long-standing concerns over accountability within the state machinery.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma has acknowledged the seriousness of the issue. “We are inquiring into this. We have asked officials from various departments and the Deputy Commissioners to conduct an inquiry. We’ll get the reports, and once they come in, we’ll be able to provide more details. The matter will be addressed as soon as possible,” he said.
Sangma also defended his administration’s track record, emphasizing that several cases of illegal mining and coal transportation have already been acted upon. “Wherever we found illegal activities—whether mining or transportation without proper documentation—we have taken action in hundreds of such cases,” he asserted.
Taking a swipe at the previous Congress-led regime, Sangma said, “The situation created during the Congress era and under the previous Chief Minister’s tenure led to a coal ban, but no steps were taken to provide relief to miners and affected communities. It was our government that took up the challenge and streamlined the process.”
He further added, “Today, we’ve initiated scientific coal mining in the state. This marks a transformation in the sector. The complications we’ve faced over the past decade—especially the last 11 years—stem from the previous government’s inaction in addressing the coal ban.”
Highlighting the progress made under his leadership, Sangma said the state government had collaborated closely with the Centre, Coal India, and other relevant agencies to formulate standard operating procedures and protocols. “Officials from the Coal Ministry recently visited and expressed satisfaction with the steps taken. On a pilot basis, eight to ten trucks have already started transporting coal outside the state,” he noted.
The Chief Minister concluded on an optimistic note: “I’m confident that in the next few months, the entire process will be fully streamlined. The issues created by the previous government will be behind us, and a new era of scientific and regulated coal mining lies ahead.”
As the probe unfolds, public attention remains fixed on the government—not only for answers but for meaningful accountability and concrete action.
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