Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on February 23 informed the state Assembly that 14 coal mine owners have been arrested since 2018, responding to a starred question on coal-related GST collections raised by MLA Ardent M Basaiawmoit.
The Chief Minister said the government has collected ₹13,87,77,996 in Goods and Services Tax (GST) from coal sales since 2018. He further disclosed that only three coal mine owners in the state are currently registered under GST — Shainingstar Khardewsaw, Dapmain Shylla and Leborlang Lyngdoh — while 574 coal traders hold GST registration.
Sangma also told the House that the GST rate on coal was revised from 5 per cent to 18 per cent with effect from September 22, 2025. However, he noted that a comparative assessment of the revenue impact of the revised rate is not yet possible. He explained that no coal auctions were conducted in October and November 2025, and although auctions resumed in December 2025, GST returns for that month have not yet been filed.
When questioned about the number of illegal coal mines operating in the state, the government did not provide a direct figure. The response stated only that information on “legally functioning” coal mines is available with the concerned department, without specifying the extent of illegal mining activities.
