Coal India Limited deposits Rs 16.47 crore for people affected by mineral extraction

From a Correspondent

DOOMDOOMA, July 19: Coal India Limited has deposited Rs 16.47 crore for aid of people affected due to mineral extraction. This was stated by the District Development Commissioner (DDC), Ri Mech in the second sitting of the Tinsukia District Mineral Foundation Trust (TDMFT) held recently at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, Tinsukia.

The meeting which was chaired by the Deputy Commissioner Oim Charan Singh and was attended by Tinsukia MLA Sanjay Kishan, Superintendent of Police, Tinsukia,  Mugdhajyoti Mahanta, Anchalik Panchayat presidents, public representatives and the representatives of OIL, Coal India Limited and State Forest Department. At the onset of the meeting, DDC Ri Mech, who is also mager of the Trust, read out the proceedings of the first meeting held on May 8.  As per decision of that meeting, Coal India Limited was asked to immediately deposit the outstanding  amount of Rs. 12.2 crore in addition to their previous part payment of Rs.4.27 crore in the Trust Fund. On the other hand, the State Forest Department could not deposit Rs. 29 lakh due to some legal hurdles. This Trust money is meant for paying compensation to the affected people in the Margherita area as a consequence to extraction of coal.

However, due to non-submission of required plan by the Margherita subdivision authority, the meeting could not take any decision for distribution of money to the affected people. In view of this, it was resolved to form a zol committee comprising government officers, MLA, gaon burah and Panchayat representatives. However, the work on opening a website of the Trust was in process,  as divulged by the DDC Ri Mech in the meeting.