A correspondent
Margherita: The Gauhati High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the ongoing illegal rat-hole coal mining in Assam and has compelled the state government to provide an explanation.
The High Court has questioned how this illegal coal mining, previously banned by the Supreme Court, is still continuing and has sought a resolution on the matter.
L. Ratan Singh, General Secretary of International Human Rights Council, Tinsukia District Committee, stated that this illegal coal mining is not a recent occurrence but has been ongoing for decades where he emphasized that regardless of whether the Congress, AGP, BJP or any political parties who were in power, this illegal business has continued because a large amount of money from coal mining and its illegal trade is funneled into the government system, both legally and illegally.
According to the committee, the crucial issue now is to conduct a thorough investigation into how and where the revenue collected from illegal coal mining is being channeled as the committee has urged the High Court to continue its investigation and take strict action against those responsible, whether individuals or organizations said L. Ratan Singh.
In the Umrangso coal mining accident, the bodies of four workers have already been recovered, while some workers are still missing as the committee demands that the full responsibility for the deaths of these workers should be placed on the owners of the illegal rat-hole mining operations and the Guwahati High Court must take strict measures to prevent such inhumane incidents from occurring in the future said L. Ratan Singh.
Additionally, the committee has pointed out that the government and administration cannot take strict action against illegal coal mining without proper authorization and if the government and administration are truly committed to curbing irregularities, then why has the main culprit behind the Umrangso accident not been arrested yet said Singh.
Expressing deep concern over the illegal coal mining in the 83 number Margherita constituency, the committee stated that merely shutting down the mines will not be enough authorities must also investigate and inspect the coal storage depots where the concerned Margherita Co-District administration has been urged to take immediate and effective action on this matter said L. Ratan Singh.
The committee has alleged that certain forest department officials from the Lekhapani, Jagun and Margherita under Digboi forest Division have been fully involved in illegal coal mining as the committee claims to have obtained the names of these officials and has stated that all relevant information will be revealed in due course said L. Ratan Singh.
Raising concerns about the rampant illegal coal mining in Arunachal Pradesh, particularly in the Changlang district, the committee has urged the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Pema Khandu to take immediate action against illegal mining operations and the International Human Rights Council, Tinsukia District Committee, will soon send an official letter to the Guwahati High Court regarding this matter said L. Ratan Singh.
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