Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma has assured appropriate action against people involved in illegal mining. The Chief Minister had earlier denied that illegal coal mining was taking place in some parts of the state.

The admission by the Chief Minister came after 13 miners were trapped inside a coal mine at Lumthari in East Jaiñtia Hills district. Coal mining in Meghalaya has been banned by the National Green Tribunal from April 17, 2014, due to unscientific “rat-hole mining.”