The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of a recent media report about a deadly explosion at an allegedly illegal rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district, an incident that reportedly claimed the lives of around 30 miners. The Tribunal has registered an original application after noting that the incident raises serious concerns about violations of environmental laws and continued illegal mining activities despite earlier bans.
According to the report cited by the Tribunal, the explosion took place on February 6, 2026, at an illegal coal mine located in the Mynsyngat area of East Jaintia Hills district. The blast reportedly occurred around 11 a.m. and was allegedly caused by dynamite being used inside the mine. The explosion resulted in several deaths and also left a number of workers trapped underground, creating panic and triggering rescue operations in the area. The scale of the tragedy has once again drawn attention to the dangers associated with illegal rat-hole mining, a practice that has been prohibited due to its hazardous nature and environmental impact.
The Tribunal observed that the continuation of such illegal mining activities, even after clear restrictions and previous orders banning the practice, raises serious questions about enforcement and monitoring. Rat-hole mining has long been criticised for posing grave risks to workers’ safety, damaging the environment, and causing severe pollution in surrounding areas. The NGT noted that the present incident appears, at first glance, to indicate violations and non-compliance with its earlier directives as well as breaches of several environmental laws.
A bench comprising NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member A. Senthil Vel stated that the facts reported in the media suggested possible violations of major environmental legislations. These include the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, the Indian Forest Act, and the Environment (Protection) Act. The Tribunal said the matter involved significant questions related to environmental protection, public safety, and the proper enforcement of statutory provisions meant to regulate mining and industrial activities.
While taking note of the seriousness of the incident, the Tribunal also referred to a Supreme Court judgment that recognised the authority of the NGT to initiate proceedings on its own, based on credible reports indicating environmental violations. Acting under this authority, the Tribunal formally registered the case and decided to examine the circumstances surrounding the explosion and the alleged illegal mining operations.
In order to ensure a proper inquiry, the Tribunal has made several authorities respondents in the case. These include the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Integrated Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) located in Shillong, and the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills district. By involving these authorities, the Tribunal aims to obtain detailed reports on how the illegal mining activity was allowed to continue, whether safety and environmental norms were violated, and what steps were taken by the concerned departments to prevent such operations.
The NGT has issued formal notices to all the respondents and directed them to submit their replies in the form of affidavits. The Tribunal has also instructed that these affidavits must be filed at least one week before the next date of hearing so that the bench can review the responses and proceed with the case without delay. The matter has been scheduled for further hearing on May 19, when the Tribunal is expected to examine the reports submitted by the concerned authorities and decide the next course of action.
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