In illegal coal mining in Assam, other NE states BJP involved:AJP
Guwahati: A section of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders are behind illegal coal mining, especially rat hole mining, in Assam and other northeastern states, the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) has said.
The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) has leveled the allegations against the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India (CJI), National Green Tribunal (NGT), Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and National Human Rights Commission. In a set of memories made. (NHRC) on 17 February.
The regional party alleged that in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Nagaland, illegal coal mining, especially rat hole mining, continues under the nose of police, forest and administration, even rat mining. It was completely banned by NGT in 2014.
In a memorandum, AJP president Lurinjupto Gogoi and general secretary Jagdish Bhuyan said that illegal mining and transportation of coal in the state is estimated to be around Rs 2,000 crore per month.
“The involvement of some politicians belonging to the ruling BJP is an open secret in Assam. These politicians influence the authorities to issue entry passes to traders for coal extraction. A cut is charged for the truck and the extortion money is shared with government officials and high officials of influential politicians involved in the scam,” AJP said in the memorandum.
“Further transportation of huge quantities of illegally mined coal is a major problem in terms of money laundering and tax evasion. This transaction involves crores of rupees. It is a big illegal racket and the ruling The syndicate is patronized by some powerful members of the Jamaat. It will be surprising to know that around 500-600 truckloads of coal are being transported daily (only in Ledo- Margherita area) and the commission is Rs 70,000 to 75,000. Up to Rs. per truck,” AJP said.
“The rates in other areas like Jagun, Tipong Jisubai, Koylajan etc. are even higher and range from Rs 1,25,000 to Rs 1,35,000 per truck. This commission is charged instead of the tax challan, which would otherwise be charged. is required for pregnancy, thus costing the government several crores in tax, the total monthly illegal transactions due to illegal mining and transportation of coal in the state is estimated at around 2000 crore is Rs. 2,000 crore per month,” the memorandum said.
“Illegal coal mining, particularly rat hole mining, continues in various parts of Assam, which has a direct impact on the environment and public interest, which calls for prompt and immediate action as per the law of the land. ” said the memorandum.
Such rats have been mined with the full knowledge of the state government. This has led to widespread destruction of one of the country’s finest rainforests in the region.
In 2014, the NGT banned illegal coal mining through the rat-hole mining method, but unfortunately rat-hole mining continues unabated in Assam’s Tinsukia and Karbi-Anglong districts.
On 22 November 2019, the Assam government informed the state assembly that the government is aware of such illegal mining of coal in Digboi Forest Division.
Action has been initiated against some officials of the Forest Department for neglecting their duties. The department has identified Tirup and Teepong forest areas as affected by illegal coal mining,” the memorandum said.
“Repeated inquiries have been ordered at various levels. Commissions have been set up to investigate illegal activities. The memorandum also said that these commissions have also submitted voluminous reports against which any action should be taken.” is stopped without
A one-member commission headed by Justice (retd) BK Katakey constituted by the Assam government clearly reported the continued existence of rat hole mining in the state.
The report also highlighted the serious impact of deforestation and its impact on vulnerability and ecological imbalance.
“Needless to say, it has a serious impact on the overall environment and harms the ecology of the area. The Justice (Retd.) BK Katakey Commission has reportedly mentioned in its report that the NEC (North Eastern Coalfields of Coal India Limited) had illegally mined coal worth Rs 48.72 billion ($650 million),” the memorandum added.
“On December 25, 2020, Justice (Retd.) Katakey Commission during a field visit to the forest area adjacent to Namdung Colliery under Saleki Proposed Reserve Forest observed rat hole mines. The houses of people living in and around the area. Piles of freshly dug coal were seen.
AJP said in a memorandum that a rat hole mine is a deep vertical shaft with several horizontal tunnels large enough to allow a slightly built person to work crouching.
The Guwahati High Court has directed the Tinsukia District Judge to survey the Tikok Extension OCP at Margherita and keep a record of the proceedings as to whether any mining is taking place and if so, by whom and by whom. through
The High Court has also said that the Tinsukia District Judge can take technical assistance to prepare the diagrams. The High Court has further directed the State Government to arrange for Tinsukia District Judge to visit the Tikok Extension OCP at Margherita – the mining site on the land in Ledo. A detailed report and action is awaited.
As a result of massive protests by the general public, various organizations and environmental activists against illegal coal mining, the SDO of Margarita Sub-Division of Tinsukia District issued orders prohibiting the entry of unauthorized persons on August 7, 2022. were Forest area – Lekhapani, Tirap and Tipang (areas where illegal mining is taking place on a large scale).
But despite such an order, illegal mining and transportation of coal continues. Unbelievable as it may seem, the government-owned North Eastern Coalfields (NEC), which was leased to extract coal in the region, has been operating illegally for years after its mining rights expired. was found involved in this activity,” said AJP.
In a media report on 15 October 2022, Tinsukia Deputy Commissioner Narsing Pawar was quoted as saying that there are two ways to stop illegal mining – one is to completely ban the movement of coal-laden trucks. And second, all should be confiscated. Illegal mining of Pokland used by coal mafia.
On several occasions, Pawar suggested officially banning the movement of coal by road.
Pawar also said that the use of drones may be necessary to monitor the movement of poklands in the upper part of the forest as poklands keep moving from one place to another. According to him, transportation of coal through railhead can reduce illegal activities considerably. But without any effect.
Despite various recommendations of inquiry agencies/commissions, illegal mining and theft of coal continues under the nose of the government till no one is caught. In fact, it has given the impression that the government has often shown complete inability, even reluctance, to stop illegal coal mining in the eastern tip of Assam, bordering Arunachal Pradesh,” AJP reported. said
“It has become a routine to catch trucks laden with coal dug out of the forests around the Ledo-Margherita region of Assam, despite the ban on the mining method which is rat hole mining, without any “The capture of the kingpin. It has given the impression that the government has often shown complete inability, even reluctance, to stop illegal coal mining in the eastern tip of Assam, bordering Arunachal Pradesh.” AJP also said this.
“There is no effective mechanism to monitor the vast forest area near Ledo-Margherita, which includes several reserve forests and an elephant corridor that stretches into Arunachal Pradesh. Occasionally, the forest department and the police stop poaching. campaign for Tham but to no avail. These government agencies often blame insufficient forces/manpower for this,” added AJP.
“Tikak and Tirup are the two main coal producing collieries in the Ledo-Margherita region of Assam. They are located close to some villages, which facilitate illegal miners/traders to hire residents to mine coal. Local people, including women and children, use sharp tools to extract coal through the rat hole method. The coal is then carried in burlap bags and head slings to specific locations to be loaded onto trucks. “It is important to note that these workers lack basic safety awareness and there are cases where they suffer fatal injuries and even many workers die without proper treatment,” the memorandum said.
Since last year, the NEC has stopped coal mining in Ledo-Margherita but its high demand has ensured the continuation of illegal activities by the politician-official-businessman nexus. Traders engaged in illegal extraction and transportation of illegally mined coal have their heavy vehicles/trucks with fake (in most cases) documents to avoid confiscation by the authorities.These papers are merely receipts showing that the tax has been paid, it said, adding that “another method by which the law is flouted is by overloading trucks with coal beyond the permissible limits. “Officials are bribed to turn a blind eye if a violation is detected on weighbridges,” he also said.
“We have reasons to believe that such illegal mining is going on only at the behest and patronage of the state government as the common people, various social activists and other environmental protection NGOs think from time to time. His This is because tonnes of coal are being transported improperly and an unimaginable illegal transaction worth crores of rupees is taking place regularly,” the memorandum said.
“Illegal transactions of large amounts of money have caused irreparable damage to the nature, flora and fauna and human lives of the region as well as a handful of miscreants who can be called greedy criminals, patronage of government officials and politicians. Got it. Especially the ruling party,” he also said.
“Therefore, we have decided to draw your attention to this matter as the highest authorities of the country for appropriate action at the earliest. We demand that illegal mining be stopped immediately and Strict action should be taken against those involved in sponsoring this illegal mining and transportation of coal (be it any government officials and/or politicians).
