Shillong, Dec. 31: Diamonds normally sparkle. But Meghalaya's 'black diamond' - coal - lost much of its glitter in 2014, as it came under the scanner of the National Green Tribunal.

In a landmark order passed on April 17 this year, the tribunal issued an interim ban on rat-hole coal mining and transportation of the mineral in the state. The order came as a bolt from the blue but it was one of the events, which wobbled Meghalaya to the core.

From the backwoods of Shahlang to Assam's Goalpara and Silchar, from the coal havens of Jaintia hills to the riches-to-rags public sector undertaking Meghalaya Cherra Cements Limited, the impact of the April 17 order was far-reaching.

Meghalaya was initially unperturbed when the coal block allocation scam hit the nation. But the country remained subdued when the NGT hammered Meghalaya, which viewed that 'such illegal and unscientific method (of coal mining) can never be allowed in the interest of maintaining ecological balance of the country and safety of the employees'.

Since April 17, the tribunal has not lifted the interim ban but allowed the transportation of extracted and assessed coal. According to a report submitted to the tribunal, nearly 6.3 million tonnes of extracted coal valued at Rs 3,078 crore was lying in various depots and places in Meghalaya while the royalty payable to the state in relation to the extracted coal could be as much as Rs 400 crore. The impact of the ban was apparently felt far and wide - from the secretariat to the mining areas, from cab drivers to shopkeepers.

A case in point is that the ban on coal mining accentuated the problems faced by the MCCL so much that the cement plant has come to a grinding halt since July.

But it was for the first time in recent history that tough questions were posed on the thriving coal business, which was always seen as something which no one could raise a finger on or question because of the high stakes involved in the business.

Environmentalists and those who have nothing to do with coal patted the tribunal for its bold order. Others went into a huddle to form groups to pressure the government to act befittingly and conform to the tribunal's orders. Coal mine owners would come in droves to Meghalaya High Court whenever the tribunal's circuit bench would conduct hearings.

As memorandums flew thick and fast to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with suggestions to invoke a provision in the Sixth Schedule so that central laws relating to mining may be rescinded, Modi chose to intervene.

In September, the Prime Minister's Office constituted a committee headed by cabinet secretary Ajit Kumar Seth to work out a 'harmonious solution' to the coal mining imbroglio in Meghalaya.

As 2014 ends and crackers are burst to welcome 2015, the coal mining issue is set to dominate the state in the New Year as well. All eyes will be on the tribunal.