Illegal Mining to be put to halt: Assam Students’ body

The students’ body proffered a memorandum to the Tinsukia’s Deputy Commissioner, demanding that the “illegal coal mining” at Ledo and Margherita be stopped on Thursday.

The issues occur a short time after the sub-divisional magistrate (SDO) of Margherita issued an order under section 144 CrPC prohibiting entry of unauthorised people and vehicles like excavators and dozers into the Lekhapani Reserve Forest, Tirap Reserve Forest, and Tipong Reserve Forest under the Lekhapani Forest Range.

The memorandum, which was signed by Krishnakant Kakoty, president of the Parishad, stated that “the unabated smuggling of coal is happening right under the nose of the government that claims to punish officials if they engage in corrupt conduct and deliver a clean administration.”

Kakoty claimed, “The illegal mining is taking place inside the Dehing Patkai National Park and at the Dehing Patkai ranges,” highlighting the extensive illegal mining in the region.The letter’s author, Kakoty, claims that Gobin Chetry, a powerful politician, is the patron of the entire illicit coal mining industry, which is thriving.

The memo has been sent to Assistant Deputy Commissioner (Forest) / SDO Margherita by Tinsukia Narsing Pawar to investigate the situation and follow the law.The Tinsukia police superintendent, Abhijit Gurav, also received a copy of the memo from the student body.

Three workers lost their lives earlier this month while working at an illegal rat-hole coal mine in a remote area close to Ledo.

The threat of illegal coal mining is nothing new for the easternmost district of Assam, which hopes that one day the administration and police would put a stop to this organised illegal coal mining racket. Environmentalists and various student organisations have raised their voices time and time again.

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