‘Illegal coal mining’ underway in upper Assam

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Government has admitted on the floor of the State Assembly that the reports of miscreants encroaching upon some areas of Northeast Coal India Ltd. (CIL) and mining there illegally are true. The government also informed the House that it is ready to take action against the encroachers if CIL lodges a complaint.

State Minister for Mines and Minerals Jogen Mohan informed the House that some areas falling under the jurisdiction of CIL in the Ledo and Margherita areas are not under the occupation of CIL. These areas are in the possession of miscreants who carry out illegal coal mining. He said that since the areas fall under the jurisdiction of CIL, the State Government cannot act against the miscreants directly. "Even then, the administration conducted eviction drives against the encroachers many times. However, after every eviction, the miscreants re-encroached on the areas," the minister said.

He said that the State Government has lodged FIRs in many police stations in the state against illegal mining and rat-hole mining. "The government has also formed a monitoring committee with the Chief Secretary as its chairman. We have also formed another committee with the DGP as its chairman to stop illegal coal storage and transportation," he said.

The minister said that the State Government also conducted a drone survey to ascertain coal reserves outside the coalfields of CIL and identified four such areas: Paharpur, Lekhapaani, Saleki, and Tikok. "We have started the process to lease out these coal reserves for mining," he said.

On the measures that the government has taken to prevent environmental pollution due to opencast mining, the Minister said, "The district mineral foundation trusts will monitor the pollution due to opencast mining. The Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) will set certain conditions for the miners to adhere to so as to control pollution. The PCBA also sets a condition as to how the miners should fill up the mined areas after their mining exercise".

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