Guwahati: The Dibrugarh district administration has imposed a ban on illegal coal mining at Tarajan tea estate in the Naharkatia area of the upper Assam’s district on Tuesday.
Deputy commissioner-cum-district magistrate Biswajit Pegu in an order-imposed restrictions on illegal coal mining in the tea estate under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
The Tarajan tea estate is located behind the Tarajan hills, 5 km north-east of the Tipam-Deosali hill range under Digboi Forest Division.
“The prohibitory order on illegal coal mining at Tarajan tea estate in Naharkatia will remain in force till further notice. Any person violating the order will be prosecuted under section 188 of the IPC,” the order signed by the Dibrugarh deputy commissioner mentioned.
The Tarajan tea estate coal deposit is part of the Dilli-Jeypore coalfield, a 40-kilometer stretch that runs through Dibrugarh district.
As per reports, illicit coal mining has been taking place at the Tarajan tea estate for quite some time. Locals and day labourers used to use sharp tools to dig out coal, which was then brought in gunny bags and dumped at designated sites where it was sold to purchasers.