New Delhi: Taking suo motu cognisance of the functioning of an illegal rat hole coal mine in Meghalaya and the deaths that occurred after a recent blast in the mine, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued notices to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the government of Meghalaya citing violations in compliance with environmental legislations.

On February 5, a fire and blast in a 100-foot-deep illegal coal mine in the Mynsngat-Thangsko area in the East Jaintia Hills district killed 18 people. On February 10, authorities announced that the initial death toll of 18 had increased to 30. 

In its order dated February 6, the NGT, India’s apex green court, noted that the death toll of 18 (at that time) made the January 5 blast in the illegal rat hole coal mine in Meghalaya one of the biggest mining-related tragedies since July 2021.

The court noted that according to activists, mine owners backed by politicians and other influential people continue to operate illegally despite the NGT’s blanket ban on mining of coal and transportation in April 2014, which was later upheld by the Supreme Court. 

“The above matter indicates violations and non-compliance of NGT’s orders, including violations of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, Indian Forest Act, 1927 and Environment Protection Act, 1986,” the tribunal said.

This incident also “raises substantial issues relating to compliance with the environmental norms and implementation of the provisions of scheduled enactment,” the tribunal noted.

Taking up the issue suo motu, a bench comprising NGT chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A. Senthil Vel issued notices to the chief secretary of Meghalaya Shakil P. Ahammed, CPCB in Delhi and its integrated regional office at Shillong in Meghalaya, and deputy commissioner of the East Jaintia Hills District Manish Kumar. The concerned authorities have to respond to the tribunal before May 12.  

The matter will then be heard by the tribunal on May 19. 

The NGT had banned rat hole coal mining in Meghalaya in 2014, following the deaths of workers in an illegal rat hole coal mine in the state – citing both the risk to workers’ lives, and dangers to ecology and the environment. The tribunal had then asked the Meghalaya government – both its chief secretary and director general of police – to “ensure that rat-hole mining/illegal mining is stopped forthwith thought-out the state of Meghalaya and any illegal transport of coal shall not take place until further orders passed by this tribunal”.

The NGT has also repeatedly raised concerns on non-compliance of this order. In 2024, following the death of six workers in an illegal rat hole coal mine in Nagaland, the NGT had pulled up the Nagaland pollution control board and mines department among others regarding the violation. 

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