Assam: HC asks CS to provide status report on action taken in Umrangso rat-hole mining

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: A division bench of the Gauhati High Court comprising Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Kaushik Goswami issued notices to the Chief Secretary to the Government of Assam and six others on the suo motu PIL (1/2025) relating to rat-hole mining at Umrangso in the Dima Hasao district of the state. The court has also asked the respondents, including the Chief Secretary, to provide the court with the latest status report regarding the action taken by the State Government to stop the practice of rat-hole coal mining in Assam by the next date of hearing.

According to the order passed by this court on January 27, 2025, this PIL (Suo Moto) petition is being registered and listed before this court today.

The court has taken note of the coal mine tragedy that had taken place at Umrangso in the Dima Hasao district. The court has taken note of various reports that suggest that more than 200 rat-hole mines are in operation in the Umrangso area. The court has also taken note that in the Karbi Anglong district, rat-hole mining is rampant and is either going unnoticed or, despite knowing the same, the authorities are not taking any action to stop or close those rat-hole mines.

“Be that as it may, we deem it appropriate to issue notice to the respondents,” the bench said.

The bench listed the PIL for hearing on February 7, 2025.

Also Read: Assam: Police crackdown on illegal coal mining at Umrangso

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