A high-level committee has found a massive shortage of coal in Meghalaya. The findings were shared in the 41st interim report submitted to the Meghalaya High Court by retired Justice B.P. Katakey on September 20, 2026.
The report shows an undisputed shortage of 13,02,456.184 metric tonnes of coal. There is a major gap between the 32,56,715 metric tonnes declared to the Supreme Court and the 19,54,258.816 metric tonnes verified on the ground by Deputy Commissioners. On October 5, 2026, a Division Bench of the Meghalaya High Court directed the state government to file a status report by November 2, 2026.
The committee highlighted enforcement failures and missing illegal coal stocks. Beyond the inventoried stocks, 37,449.53 metric tonnes of illegally mined coal disappeared from locations outside Coal India Limited depots. Not a single rat-hole mine has been fenced or closed despite court orders, and legal proceedings against illegal mining remain stalled.
