Shillong, Feb 23: The state has earned about Rs 14 crore in GST from the sale of coal since 2018, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma provided a written reply to a question raised by Nongkrem MLA Ardent Basaiawmoit on Day 6 of the Budget Session on Monday.
The earning was precisely Rs 13,87,77,996 from 574 coal traders registered with GST.
The VPP MLA also wanted to know about the state’s gains from the revision of GST rates from 5% to 18%. To this, Sangma said the revised rate came into effect last September.
“No coal was auctioned by the Directorate of Mineral Resources during October and November 2025. Although auctioning resumed in December 2025, the GST return for that month has not yet been filed. Therefore, at present, it is not possible to make a comparative assessment of GST revenue from coal with that of FY2024-25,” Sangma replied.
To another question, the chief minister said 14 coal mine owners have been arrested since 2018.
In 2018, activists Agnes Kharshiing and Amita Sangma had a near-fatal experience on the hands of a rowdy mob in East Jaintia Hills when they were investigating illegal mining. While the state government had been in denial mode on the illegal coal mining issue, several mine accidents had shown otherwise.
The latest tragedy was at Thangkso in East Jaintia Hills where a blast killed 34 workers. The district police have cracked down on illegal mining since the incident.
Seven years after attack, Agnes & Amita yet to get compensation
