A technical team from the Union Ministry of Coal has inspected coal-rich areas of the Khasi-Jaintia Hills to assess whether mining norms can be revised to address the concerns of small miners in Meghalaya. The visit formed part of continuing discussions between the Centre and the state government on the possible resumption of small-scale coal mining.

The inspection followed Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma’s meeting with Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy in New Delhi on July 7, 2026. Sangma had raised concerns about coal-dependent families and examined options for reviving the sector while maintaining regulatory and environmental safeguards.

Although the Supreme Court lifted the blanket ban on coal mining in Meghalaya in 2019, small miners have been unable to restart operations because of new requirements for scientific mining, particularly the minimum area prescribed for mining activities. The team was accompanied by officials from the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute, the Directorate General of Mines Safety and the state Directorate of Mineral Resources.

During the visit, officials examined existing mining practices and assessed the feasibility of conducting operations in line with scientific methods, safety standards, environmental safeguards and applicable legal requirements. They also met senior state government officials to discuss the technical requirements for scientific mining and the difficulties created by Meghalaya’s geology and landholding patterns.

The discussions covered the safety and environmental conditions that would have to be met before any mining activity could resume. Sangma said the state government was exploring viable options to restart coal mining while balancing economic development with environmental responsibility, and added that cooperation between the Union ministry and local miners could support a safe and sustainable framework.

Further assessments and follow-up meetings are expected in the coming weeks. The Directorate of Mineral Resources will coordinate with the Union ministry and other departments to advance the process. Officials clarified that the inspection was only a feasibility assessment and did not itself indicate that coal mining would resume in Meghalaya.