Guwahati: The All India Trade Union Congress(AITUC), Tinsukia district on Tuesday demand for an high level inquiry for alleged illegal coal mining under Margherita sub division of Tinsukia district.
AITUC demand the high level enquiry committee should be formed with the sitting Judges of Supreme Court. According to reports, on January 23, two coal workers died while extracting coal from rat-hole mining. They has been identified as Bijoy Munda and Kartik Gowala.
According to sources, they died due to poisonous gas while working at the rat hole mining. Similarly, the two workers died like the three coal workers died on September 18, 2022 while working at rat-hole mining.
Meanwhile, every day trucks loaded with illegal coal passes through the road. The illegal coal mining has been going on unbated in Ledo-Margherita area of Tinsukia district.
“We demand to the government of Assam should give Rs 1 crore to each victim’s families and government jobs to their dependent. We also demand high level inquiry committee should be formed with the sitting Judges of Honorable Supreme Court without further delay,” said Ranjan Chowdhury, secretary, AITUC, Assam state committee.
He further said, “We have learned from confidential sources that illegal mining is going on under the knowledge of district authorities and they are compelled to keep mum because the entire matter is under the sponsorship and control of influencecial minister of Assam government and some ruling party leaders,”.”Coal India producing is very negligible but whereas hundreds of illegal coal loaded trucks are passing through Tinsukia district everyday. Thousand of rat hole mines are illegaly operational in Margherita-Ledo area,” he stated.
On the other hand, Tinsukia district unit of All Tai Ahom Students’ Union (ATASU) on Tuesday staged a protest against illegal mining in operating in Tinsukia district “The illegal coal mining is posing a serious threat to the entire environment of Dehing-Patkai National park. Due to illegal extraction of coals from the Patkai hills, the entire hills losses it greenery. We demand to the Assam government to take immediate step against illegal coal mining,” said a leader of ATASU.