'Centre conspiring to close North Eastern Coalfields' Says Tarun Gogoi

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Former Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has alleged that the Central government is 'hatching a conspiracy' to close the North Eastern Coalfields, Coal India Limited situated in Margherita in upper Assam.

Opposing the move, Gogoi said that the people of Assam are not demanding for closure of the industry rather is opposing illegal coal mining. He said that no one has opposed coal mining in areas having legal permission but the permission granted for coal mining in a new area which will cause threat to the biodiversity of the area. Hence, the Central government's conspiracy and move to close this industry in the name of the voice raised actually against illegal coal mining can't be accepted.

Gogoi further claimed that the State government has failed in raising the issues and problems of the region in front of the Centre. "Assam is losing its public sector industries one after another. How the government will provide employment to those unemployed that can't even run the existing industries?" questioned Gogoi. 

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