Assam: Illegal coal mining continues in Margherita despite ban

A CORRESPONDENT

MARGHERITA: Once again, a large-scale illegal coal storage has been discovered in Ledo under 83 No. Margherita constituency.

Expressing strong dissatisfaction over this issue, L Ratan Singh, General Secretary of the International Human Rights Council, Tinsukia District Committee, stated that without the tacit support of the Assam Government and Assam Police, such illegal coal storage and expansion would not be possible.

On Sunday, while returning from a special assignment in Arunachal Pradesh, we noticed that between Itakhola and Tirap Colliery in the Ledo area, unauthorized pathways have been created on railway land to store illegal coal and upon investigation by its officials, the committee found that the stored coal was extracted from the banned rat-hole mines of Deep Mine and No. 1 Mulung Hill. This illegal operation is allegedly led by individuals identified as Das and Rajak, who regularly stockpile coal and transport it via trucks during the evening hours, said L Ratan Singh.

 The key issue here is that the land where this coal is being stored belongs to the Indian Railways and just a few days ago, the Railway Police arrested five individuals from the same area and sent them to judicial custody. However, despite these arrests, illegal coal storage and trade continue unabated at the same location, said L Ratan Singh.

In this regard, the International Human Rights Council, Tinsukia District committee, has urged the Railway Police, Margherita Police, Margherita Co-District administration, NEC CIL Margherita, and forest department officials to take immediate action to stop illegal coal storage and trading. The committee has also warned that if the concerned department fails to take appropriate measures in time, it will be compelled to approach the Guwahati High Court for intervention on the ongoing illegal coal mining, said Singh.

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