Guwahati: In the aftermath of the tragic coal mine incident in Umrangso, authorities in Assam took swift action on Saturday, shutting down 13 illegal rat-hole mines in the Bittu Pahar area of Namdang colliery, located in the Tinsukia district.
The officials leading the crackdown were Margherita Sub-Divisional Executive Magistrate Pritom Gogoi, Tinsukia Superintendent of Police Abhijit Gurav, as well as representatives from North Eastern Coalfields and Assam Power Distribution Company Limited.
During the operation, police detained three miners who were found actively extracting coal from the illegal mines.
Authorities also dismantled illegal power connections supplying electricity to the mines and confiscated various electrical equipment being used in the mining process.
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Executive Magistrate Pritom Gogoi confirmed the action, stating, “Three miners were caught red-handed while extracting coal from the rat-hole mines and have been detained. We have also dismantled illegal electrical connections and seized equipment. Such operations will continue across the region.”
This crackdown follows a decision by the Assam Cabinet on January 16 to permanently close all rat-hole mines in the state’s North Eastern Coalfields and implement a stringent Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to regulate mining activities.
The move comes in response to the tragic deaths of several miners in an illegal rat-hole mine in Umrangso, Dima Hasao, highlighting the urgent need for action.
Despite ongoing efforts to combat illegal mining, the issue remains pervasive in the region.
Activist Ranjan Chowdhury recently raised concerns on his YouTube channel, claiming that organised crime syndicates, supported by corrupt political figures, are behind the illegal mining operations.
“Illegal coal mining is organised crime. Coal mafias operate with impunity, aided by corrupt politicians. Trucks carrying illegal coal travel the highways daily, yet no one dares to stop them,” Chowdhury alleged.
The government’s latest crackdown signals an attempt to curb this long-standing problem, but critics argue that more comprehensive measures are needed to dismantle the powerful networks driving the illegal coal trade in Assam.
Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia given to each of Umrangso victims’ families
Ex-gratia cheques were given on Saturday to families of miners whose bodies have been recovered and those still trapped in the flooded Umrangso coal mine, even as the dewatering process of the mine continued.
Assam Mines and Minerals minister Kaushik Rai handed over the cheque of Rs 10 lakh each to the next of kin of the four miners whose bodies have been recovered.
The families of the five miners who remained trapped inside the mine were given cheques of Rs 6 lakh, with the remaining amount to be handed to them later, an official statement said.
