Meghalaya, known for receiving the highest rainfall in India, is now in the spotlight for a rather bizarre reason. Over 4,000 tonnes of coal have reportedly gone missing from the state, sparking serious questions about accountability and governance. When the Meghalaya High Court pulled up the state government over the missing coal, a minister’s explanation left many surprised. Excise Minister Kyrmen Shylla claimed that the heavy rainfall in the state could have washed away the coal.

Meghalaya receives the highest rainfall. You never know… because of rain, the coal might have been swept away. Chances are very high,” the minister told reporters. However, he also clarified that he wasn’t trying to justify the disappearance. When asked further, Shylla admitted that there was no solid evidence to prove whether the coal vanished due to natural reasons or illegal activities.

The coal in question went missing from Rajaju and Diengngan villages. The High Court has now directed the state government to take strict action against the officials who were responsible for monitoring and protecting the coal stock. This incident has raised concerns, especially given Meghalaya’s history with coal mining.

In 2014, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned coal mining and transportation in the state due to serious environmental and safety issues. Reports had highlighted water contamination and unsafe mining practices. Despite the ban, illegal mining has continued in many parts of the state.

Earlier this year, scientific coal mining began in the East Jaintia Hills, following years of regulatory hurdles. But activists claim that illegal mining is still widespread. When questioned about these claims, Minister Shylla gave no clear answer. He said multiple departments are responsible for monitoring such activities and suggested that people might engage in illegal mining for survival, though he acknowledged that such acts harm the state.