By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 8: The devastating dynamite explosion at an illegal coal mine in the Mynsyngat-Thangsko area of Elaka Sutnga, East Jaintia Hills, has once again exposed the persistent illegal coal mining operations in the region, allegedly run by a tightly knit local syndicate with deep political backing reaching up to the level of the autonomous district council, certain legislators and ministers.
Exclusive control by local influential people
Multiple sources familiar with the illegal coal mining operations told The Shillong Times that mining and related business activities in the coal-rich Elaka Sutnga are strictly reserved for influential locals. Outsiders, including residents from nearby Khliehriat, are barred from participating in extraction or trade.
The system, often referred to as operating on “Sorgari Land” principles (implying government-like control), ensures that only those with substantial capital and influence can enter the business.
Mining remains highly capital-intensive, involving costs for labour, transportation, and logistics, with payments for coal often delayed by four to six months.
“In the interim period, when one operator’s funds run dry, another local with ready cash steps in to sustain extraction,” a source explained.
“This rotational arrangement among a small, closed group keeps control firmly within Elaka Sutnga, allowing the same individuals to accumulate sustained wealth while excluding external players.”
12-year-long defiance of NGT ban
These illegal activities have persisted for 12 years, in open violation of the National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) April 2014 ban on rat-hole mining. Sources allege a strong nexus between coal operators and political figures, claiming that high-level awareness and protection enable such large-scale operations to continue unchecked.
“This is no secret—people in positions of power know exactly what’s happening,” one source asserted. “Without political shielding, operations of this magnitude could not survive for so long.”
Sources further alleged that neither the coal mafia nor political stakeholders have any real interest in the introduction of scientific mining, as illegal operations generate higher unaccounted profits.
While the government continues to speak about scientific mining, there is reportedly little seriousness in implementing it, despite the potential for generating legitimate state revenue.
Forced enforcement after disaster
The Thangsko blast has forced the East Jaintia Hills district administration to take action, but sources doubt its sincerity and effectiveness.
“How can officials act decisively when political bosses are allegedly complicit?” a source questioned, describing crackdown efforts as largely cosmetic.
Mine owners rarely visit sites, delegating operations to appointed managers known as ‘Sordars’. These Sordars recruit labourers—mostly undocumented migrants from Assam, Nepal, and Bangladesh—who accept lower wages and are paid per coal trolley extracted, with no fixed rates.
These workers neither have No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from village Dorbars nor labour licences issued by the Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council (JHADC) or the state government. Sources remarked dismissively: “Why should Elaka Sutnga take up the burden of issuing NOCs to illegal immigrants?”
Silence from pressure groups
Quite surprising is the stoic silence of powerful pressure groups such as the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU), the Jaintia Students’ Union and the Jaintia National Council (JNC), along with others in East Jaintia Hills. None of these groups have visited mining sites to check for illegal migrant labour, despite knowledge of the same.
“These groups frequently patrol National Highways but never venture into the jungle areas,” a source alleged, adding that even pressure groups are reportedly barred from accessing Elaka Sutnga. Notably, no East Jaintia Hills-based pressure group has publicly condemned the recent blast.
Authorities often cite the inaccessibility of jungle terrain as a barrier to enforcement. Sources reject this, noting prior use of drone surveys for illegal mines. “If physical access is impossible, drones could still be deployed,” one source pointed out.
Calls for accountability
The illegal mining network extends across Elaka Sutnga, well beyond the blast site. Sources insist that the scale of operations points to high-level planning and protection.
“The money flows right to the top level. Nothing this big happens without coordination and safeguards,” they alleged, while renewing demands for genuine crackdowns, transparent enforcement, and an end to the cycle of preventable deaths in Meghalaya’s illegal coal pits.
