It's a known fact that Meghalaya receives the highest rain in the country. This facet was used by a minister to conveniently justify the disappearance of over 4,000 tonnes of coal in the state after the High Court rapped the government on its knuckles, PTI reported.

After the High Court questioned the government on the missing coal, the minister had an unusual answer: heavy rain in the state might have washed it all away.

However, the court directed the government to take action against the officials who were responsible for keeping a watch on the coal stock, which went missing from Rajaju and Diengngan villages.

"Meghalaya receives the highest rainfall. You never know... because of rain, the coal might have swept away. Chances are very high," Excise Minister Kyrmen Shylla told reporters.

However, Shylla underscored that he was not trying to justify the disappearance. On being prodded further on his bizarre claim, he admitted there was no conclusive proof if the coal went missing due to natural causes or any illegal activity.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned coal mining and transportation in Meghalaya in 2014, citing ecological concerns and rampant unregulated and unsafe practices.

The ban came following reports of water contamination and frequent safety lapses in hazardous mines. However, earlier this year, the first scientific coal mining started in the East Jaintia hills.

On claims by several activists of rampant illegal coal mining in Meghalaya, the minister did not give a concrete answer. He said there was no concrete evidence to buttress such claims. He also said that multiple departments were there to monitor such activities.

"But I believe that our people, if it is for survival, might do it illegally... otherwise nobody wants to do anything that could harm the state," PTI quoted the minister as saying.

Source: India Today