Guwahati: The Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that illicit coal mining, specifically rat-hole mining, is wreaking havoc on the ecosystem throughout the state of Assam as well as its neighbouring states of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.
The party claimed in the memorandum that the state government is already aware that illegal coal mining, which has persisted unchecked for decades in India’s north-eastern states, has been endangering one of the region’s best rainforests.
Rat-Hole Mining was outlawed by the National Green Tribunal of India in 2014, yet it is still taking place in the Tinsukia and Karbi-Anglong districts of Assam.
Judge (Retd.) BK Kakoty Commission was a one-man panel established by the state government. The commission had unequivocally stated that “Rat-Hole Mining” was still being done illegally throughout the state. The paper also emphasised the serious consequences and risk of deforestation, as well as how it affects ecological equilibrium.
The AJP has also charged some lawmakers of Assam with bribing officials into issuing permits for the mining of coal and making money from the unlawful mining. The Prime Minister has been urged by the AJP to take action to halt unlawful mining and save the environment.
“The involvement of some politicians belonging to is an open secret in Assam. These politicians reportedly influence the authorities to issue entry passes to traders for the extraction of coal. We have reasons to believe that such illegal mining is continuing only at the behest and patronage of the state government as contemplated by general public, various social activists and other environment protection NGOs from time to time. The reason being Tonnes of coals are being transported in-appropriately and an unimaginable illegal transaction amounting Crores is taking place regularly”, the party stated.