Gauhati High Court Asks DCs of Dibrugarh & Tinsukia To Make Spot Verification

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has directed the deputy commissioners of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts to file a detailed affidavit on alleged destruction of Tipong hills due to illegal mining by coal mafia. Tipong hills fall under Digboi sub-division in Tinsukia district.

The high court’s directive came recently during a hearing of suo-motu PIL. The court last year took up the case on the basis of a newspaper report on illegal mining in Tinsukia district that resulted in adverse impact on environment including destruction of Tipong hills.

A division bench of Gauhati High Court comprising Chief Justice (Acting) Arup Kumar Goswami and Justice Manish Choudhury directed the Deputy Commissioners of Dibrugarh and Tinsukia to make spot verification at Tipong hills and file the affidavit on or before July 31. The affidavit will also indicate the number of coke industries situated within the two DCs’ respective jurisdictions and more particularly within the vicinity of Tipong hills.

On other hand, sources alleged that coal is being illegally mined in the hilly forest areas on both sides of the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border and transported to Assam to be sold in the State or outside. Some amount of this coal lands up in the coke units of Margherita as well for developing it into coke. These coke units pose a big threat to the environment of the area.

“Coal mining, an organised crime involving many players, is costing the government exchequer crores of rupees,” the source said.

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