Save the Amazon of the East

On April 7, 2020 the National Board for Wildlife approved coal-mining in 98.59 hectares in the Saleki area of Dehing Patkai. The decision of the Central Government is really shocking. The people of Assam fear that the decision when implemented will have an adverse impact on the biodiversity of this virgin forest. Wildlife and environmental activists have also launched a signature campaign to save the rainforest. The protesters are urging the Prime Minister of India, the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Chief Minister of Assam and the National Board for the Wildlife to stop all current and future coal mining project in Saleki and in the entire Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve. Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary is known as the Amazon of the East. It is the largest tropical lowland rainforest in India that covers 111.19 sq km, spreading over Dibrugarh and Tinisukia districts. Coal mining in the area will lead to felling of 2.7 lakh trees, besides causing irreparable damage to other wildlife. Coal mines release a large amount of methane which is 20 times more dangerous for trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide.

Some top politicians have often figured in reports of illegal coal mining, while indiscriminate extraction of coal through open-cast mining and rat-hole mining have together already caused severe damage to air and water quality in the area. It is now official that Coal India Ltd had in the recent past indulged in massive illegal mining of coal inside protected forests for which the Assam Forest Department last month slapped a penalty of Rs 43.25 crore on Coal India Ltd for carrying out illegal mining activity inside the reserve forest for 16 years since 2003. We cannot take any further risk with the nature. Coal mining kills animals and brings about climate change. So, we need to save Dehing Patkai.

Mitali Saloi,

Cotton University.