At present there is only one legal coal mine operating in Marghereta, but illegal coal mining and transportation from many other mines continues in Assam.
The coal business in Assam has faced sharp criticism following the recent Umrangso coal mine incident, where nine workers were trapped, and the bodies of four victims have been recovered so far. In response, the Assam government has announced a judicial inquiry and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the incident. The government has also identified 220 rat-hole coal mines in the Umrangso area of Dima Hasao district, including the ill-fated mine where the tragedy occurred on January 6. Coal is abundant in three main areas of Assam—Tinsukia, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao. Hundreds of tonnes are transported daily to various states via Guwahati, primarily sourced from Meghalaya and a few Assam districts. Despite its lucrative nature, the coal business is often shrouded in questions of legality.
How many legal coal mines are there in Assam?
Though coal is found in districts such as Tinsukia, Dima Hasao, and Karbi Anglong, only one coal mine currently operates legally in Assam, located in Margherita under the Tinsukia district. A source from the Directorate of Geology and Mining, speaking anonymously to GPlus, stated, “The only legal coal mine operating is in Margherita, owned by Coal India Ltd.” The source further noted that while other coal mines had operated legally, their leases had expired. Coal, being an unprocessed mineral, is extracted and sold without much regulation, leading many to exploit this by illegally mining in available areas.
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On why the department does not close illegal mines, the source explained that while inspections had been carried out and lists of illegal mines were submitted to the government, action is ultimately the government’s responsibility. “Rat-hole mining is banned by the Supreme Court, but it continues unchecked,” the source emphasised.
How was the Umrangso mine operating illegally?
The Umrangso coal mine, located in Assam’s Dima Hasao district, has highlighted the shocking reality of illegal mining operations that lacked the necessary environmental clearances. Sources in the area revealed that the rat-hole mine, allegedly operated by the wife of a prominent leader, functioned with the apparent knowledge of local police, forest, and administrative officials, with political backing from Dispur and Haflong.
According to the Directorate of Geology and Mining, coal mining above 150 hectares requires clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), while mines between 150 hectares and 5 hectares need approval from the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA). Rat-hole mining below 5 hectares is strictly prohibited by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Supreme Court. Despite this, sources claim the Umrangso mine operated without the required clearances, falling within an Unclassified State Forest (USF) that would require forest clearance for mining activities. Illegal mines continue to operate across Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong Hills, with suspected involvement from politicians, mining, and forest officials.
Is there any mechanism to detect illegal coal transportation?
Illegal coal trade remains rampant, with syndicates adapting their methods. Although Coal India Limited (CIL) is the sole authorised entity mining coal in the government-owned mines near Margherita, activists allege that illegally mined coal is transported to coke industries and then moved using challans (transport permits) from these industries, many of which are operating illegally. It is reported that over 50 coal coke industries function around Margherita, and similar practices are observed in Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong.
A source involved in coal transportation, speaking anonymously, explained that distributors in Guwahati, particularly along the Basistha-Jalukbari stretch, purchase coal from both Assam and Meghalaya. Hundreds of coal-laden trucks reach Guwahati each night, where, with the help of proper challans, the coal is made to appear legal. The source claimed that although the Directorate of Geology and Mining can check the legality of the coal by verifying the Mineral Dealer License on the trucks, inspections are infrequent. The source added that many trucks were seized but later released due to pressure from higher authorities, highlighting the strong nexus of illegal coal mining and transportation.
Present status
The Assam government has announced the use of satellite imagery to monitor the proliferation of 220 illegal coal mines in Umrangso. In addition, a judicial inquiry commission, led by retired Gauhati High Court judge Justice Anima Hazarika, has been set up to investigate the lapses that allowed unauthorised mining. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) will also probe the recent incident in Umrangso, with Justice Hazarika overseeing its activities for transparency. Plans to introduce a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ban rat-hole mining have also been initiated.
Meanwhile, only four bodies have been recovered from the Umrangso rat-hole mine, with five workers still reported missing. Authorities now claim they will take action against illegal mining following the incident. However, the question remains: Will any action be taken against the influential leaders backing this illegal business?
