Assam: 13 Rat-Hole Mines Sealed in Margherita

A Correspondent

Margherita: Over 13 illegal rat-hole mines were sealed, 4 illegal coal miners arrested, and two temporary offices sealed, with one generator and excavators seized from Bittu Pahar of Namdang colliery under the Margherita co-district, in an operation carried out in the morning of Saturday.

The Executive Magistrate of the Margherita co-district administration, Pritom Gogoi, Director General of Police GP Singh, Margherita police personnel, officials from North Eastern Coalfields of Coal India Ltd., and officials from Assam Power Distribution Company Limited's Margherita Sub-Divisional Engineer's office were present during the time of the raid, which resulted in the sealing of the rat-hole mines.

The action on the rat-hole mines follows a meeting of the Assam Cabinet, held on January 16 in Morigaon, where it was decided that all rat-hole mines in the North Eastern Coalfields of Assam will be permanently closed down, and an SOP will be issued.

The action was taken following a tragic incident at an illegal rat-hole mine in Umrangso, Dima Hasao, where many coal miners tragically lost their lives.

Pritom Gogoi said that the operations and arrests were carried out following the instructions from Dispur, and all arrested illegal coal miners and seized excavators will be brought to Margherita police station, and further investigation will be conducted under the law.

 Also Read: Assam Government To Enforce Ban on Rat-Hole Mining With New SOP Amid Rescue Efforts

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