Total 45,000 tons of illegally mined coal was seized in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills district after the high court pulled up the state government for its failure to check illegal mining, officials said on Friday.
The seizures were made over the last three weeks, they said.
“Over 50,000 tons of coal was seized during the last three weeks. Of this, 45,000 tons was found to be illegal, while legal papers were available for 5,000 tons of coal,” a senior official at the Directorate of Mineral Resources told PTI.
A report is being prepared and it will be submitted to the district court for auction, he said.
The action of the district administration came as the high court pulled up the state government over rampant illegal coal mining in the district.
