Shillong, Feb 11: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report concerning a fatal explosion at an allegedly illegal rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district that reportedly claimed 30 lives.
The Tribunal registered an original application on the basis of a news report published on February 6, 2026, which detailed the blast and flagged possible violations of environmental regulations. The report, as noted by the NGT, stated that the explosion occurred around 11 a.m. at an illegal mining site in the Mynsyngat area and was allegedly triggered by dynamite. The incident led to multiple deaths and left several miners trapped underground.
While taking note of the report, the Tribunal observed that rat-hole mining, widely regarded as hazardous, had previously been banned. It expressed concern over the apparent continuation of such illegal operations despite existing prohibitions.
A bench comprising NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member A. Senthil Vel remarked that the incident prima facie indicated non-compliance with the Tribunal’s earlier directives and suggested potential violations of key environmental laws. These include the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, the Indian Forest Act, and the Environment (Protection) Act.
The NGT stated that the case raised substantial questions relating to environmental protection and enforcement of statutory provisions. Citing a Supreme Court judgment that affirmed its authority to initiate proceedings on its own motion, the Tribunal formally registered the matter.
Several authorities have been impleaded as respondents in the case, including the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya, the Central Pollution Control Board, the Integrated Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in Shillong, and the Deputy Commissioner of East Jaintia Hills district.
The Tribunal has issued notices to the respondents, directing them to submit their replies in the form of affidavits at least one week before the next hearing. The matter has been scheduled for further proceedings on May 19.
