GUWAHATI: The Assam government has detected 263 illegal rat-hole coal mines in the central part of the state under the jurisdiction of two autonomous councils.
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This was informed by Mines and Minerals Minister Kaushik Rai on Wednesday, March 5, at the ongoing assembly session in a written reply to Independent MLA Akhil Gogoi. Stating that 248 illegal mines were found in the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC), which covers Dima Hasao district, the minister added that 15 mines were also detected in the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, covering East and West Karbi Anglong.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had previously banned rat-hole mining in 2014, but the illegal practice has continued to persist in parts of Northeast India. The state government also confirmed that illicit coal extraction occurs in Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, and Charaideo but did not provide details on mining activities in these areas.
Additionally, responding to AIUDF MLA Ashraful Hussain, Rai informed that the government had seized 25,631.98 tonnes of illegally mined and transported coal in the last three years. He added that the coal would be auctioned legally, and a monitoring committee, led by the state’s Director General of Police (DGP), had been formed to curb illegal mining.
Discussions regarding illegal coal mining in Assam gained urgency in the assembly after the recent Umrangso mining tragedy on January 6, where nine labourers were trapped inside the 3-Kilo Coal Quarry due to sudden water flooding. Their partially decomposed bodies were recovered after several days.
