Meghalaya Begins Legal Coal Exports With Two Truckloads

04 Aug 2025 CW Team

Meghalaya marked a key milestone today with the first-ever commercial transport of scientifically mined coal. Two trucks—one headed to Bihar and another to Uttar Pradesh—were ceremonially flagged off at 17th Mile, Byrnihat, near Guwahati, by a traditional Khasi king.

The coal originated from the Saryngkham-A mine at Byndihati in East Jaintia Hills, operated by leaseholder Dapmain Shylla. This mine, inaugurated on 17 March by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, is the first to begin operations under Meghalaya’s newly approved scientific coal mining framework. Officials believe this will play a role in reducing India’s dependence on imported coal.

This breakthrough follows tripartite agreements signed in January 2024 between the central government and three miners from the state. It also signals a fresh start after the 2014 ban on unscientific rat-hole mining by the National Green Tribunal, imposed due to serious environmental and safety concerns. The ban was lifted in 2019 after the Supreme Court allowed scientific mining under regulated conditions.

Local traders are optimistic that this new regime will boost the regional economy while enhancing transparency. For years, coal transport through Meghalaya, Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar was marred by illegal levies—reportedly as high as Rs 3 million in so-called "goonda tax" per shipment. The adoption of GST-compliant documentation is expected to eradicate these practices.

Before the 2014 ban, Meghalaya’s coal industry generated approximately Rs 7 billion annually. So far, 12 leaseholders have been appointed by the state government and Coal India Limited to undertake scientific mining, a move officials say will curb illegal extraction and ensure sustainable, accountable operations.

Infrastructure Transport

13 Oct 2025

Tata, Airbus to Build India’s First Private Helicopter Line

In a landmark development for India’s aerospace sector, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus will establish the country’s first private-sector helicopter assembly line in Vemagal, Karnataka. The facility will manufacture the Airbus H125 and H125M, marking a significant milestone in India’s push for self-reliance in aviation and defence manufacturing. The new Final Assembly Line (FAL) will produce the H125, the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter, known for its versatility and performance in extreme environments. The first ‘Made in India’ H125 is expected to ro..

NeGD to Support Bharat Taxi in Building Cooperative Ride Platform

In a significant move for India’s digital and mobility transformation, the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Digital India Corporation, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has entered into an advisory partnership with Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, the company behind Bharat Taxi — a first-of-its-kind, cooperative-led national ride-hailing platform. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between NeGD and Sahakar Taxi to provide strategic advisory and technical support covering key areas such as platform integration, cybersecurity..

MeitY Hosts Pre-Summit for India–AI Impact Summit 2026

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, hosted a series of Pre-Summit events for the upcoming India–AI Impact Summit 2026 at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi. These sessions mark a key milestone ahead of the main summit, scheduled for 19–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Delivering the inaugural address, S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, highlighted India’s innovative and frugal approach to AI development. “We have adopted innovative means by learning from others’ experiences to build projects and products that..