Guwahati, Jan 28: The Gauhati High Court has registered a suo motu case regarding the illegal rat-hole coal mining operations in Assam’s Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong districts. The court has sought a detailed response from the Assam government on the steps taken to halt these illicit mining activities.
The case follows the tragic coal mine disaster at 3 Kilo in Umrangso, where nine miners were trapped in a flooded rat-hole mining site that operated under the nose of law enforcement and administrative authorities. Four bodies were recovered, while five miners remain trapped inside the mine.
Reports indicate that 220 illegal rat-hole mining sites have been operated under the alleged patronage of mafia networks, law enforcement, forest officials, politicians, and administrative authorities. Several such illegal operations have also been identified across Karbi Anglong district.
A division bench led by Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Kaushik Goswami raised concerns about how over 200 illegal mining sites have been functioning unchecked, in direct violation of the Supreme Court’s ban on rat-hole mining.
“The Court has taken note of the coal mine tragedy that occurred in Umrangso, Dima Hasao district. Reports suggest that more than 200 illegal rat-hole mines are in operation in the region,” the court stated in its order.
“The Court has also noted that rat-hole mining is rampant in Karbi Anglong, either unnoticed or deliberately ignored by the authorities,” the order further mentioned.
“Given the gravity of the situation, we find it necessary to issue notices to the concerned respondents,” the court declared.
The court has issued notices to the Chief Secretary of Assam; Additional Chief Secretary (Mines and Minerals); Commissioner and Secretary (Environment and Forest); Secretary (Home and Political); Principal Secretary (Revenue and Disaster Management); Principal Secretary (Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council – KAAC) and Director of Geology and Mining.
Advocate General D. Saikia received the notices on behalf of the Assam government, while lawyer J. Chutia received the notice on behalf of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC). The High Court has scheduled February 7 as the next hearing date.
