Gauhati High Court asks Centre, others to file affidavits by July 19

Alleged illegality in grant of coal-mining leases in State

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has given additional time till July 19 next for the Central Government and other respondents to file their counter-affidavits in connection with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) which has alleged illegality in renewal of coal mining leases of the North Eastern Coalfields in Assam.

At the previous hearing on May 27, the High Court had issued notices returnable by June 28 to the Central Government, State Government, Coal India Limited, National Board for Wildlife and State Board for Wildlife in the matter.

Citing the report of the One-Man Commission of Justice (Retd) BP Katakey regarding unregulated coal mining in the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, the petitioners have submitted that the Government of Assam renewed the coal mining lease and licences of Coal India Limited's subsidiary, North Eastern Coalfields, by violating provisions of the Mines and Minerals (Regulation & Development) Act, 1957 as well as provisions of the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960. The petitioners have specifically questioned the legality of renewal of four coal mining leases - the 2.38 sq km Tirap mining lease, the 4.48 sq km Lekhapani-Tipongpani mining lease, the 4.00 sq miles Ledo & Borgolai mining lease in the Tinsukia district and the Jeypore mining lease in the Dibrugarh district. They contended that illegal coal mining in the areas concerned, including rat-hole mining, "is causing total destruction of the rain forests of Assam".

The petitioners have further submitted that the report of the Justice (Retd) BP Katakey Commission mentions that many aspects of the matter could not be gone into "due to lack of cooperation of the Government departments".

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