Assam Forest Minister visits Dehing Patkai, assures protection

GUWAHATI: The Assam government has categorically said that no harmful activity would be allowed to destroy the flora and fauna at Saleki proposed reserve forest, which is a part of the Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve in Upper Assam.

State environment and forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya, who visited Saleki where the National Board for Wild Life (NBWL) has recommended for approval a proposal for open cast mining under a project by North Eastern Coalfields (NECF), said an analytical study through mapping and drone surveillance was being prepared to ascertain the natural resources in the area.

NECF, Margherita is the Assam-based coal producing unit of Coal India Limited (CIl).

“Illegal mining was going at Dehing Patkai during the previous government. However, after our government came to power (in 2016), we have not allowed such activity. We are an eco-friendly government and committed to biodiversity conservation,” Suklabaidya told reporters on Wednesday.

“As a matter of fact, 5000 metric tonnes of coal extracted from the area was seized and the Centre had imposed a Rs 43crore penalty on CIL,” the minister said.

It may be noted that chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal had in view of the opposition from several quarters against the purported attempt of coal mining at Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, directed Suklabaidya to visit the sanctuary for taking stock of the ground situation there.

NECF stand

On the other hand, the North Eastern Coalfields issued a media statement informing that it was in the process of complying with stipulations and conditions laid down by the NBWL and ministry of environment and forest and climate change for mining coal in Tikak open cast project under Saleki Proposed Reserve Forest.

NECF had applied to the Assam government for forestry clearance in 2003 and subsequently another application was made in 2012. Thereafter, “In Principle Approval (Stage-1)”clearance was granted in December 2019 by the environment ministry with 28 conditions. One of the condition for Stage I forest clearance was obtaining clearance from NBWL.

Final clearance, which is Stage 11 for this project, is to be granted by environment ministry after fulfillment of certain conditions by NECF, and only then extraction of coal can be done.

“Following a meeting in April 2020 the principle condition was that a site-specific mine reclamation plan in consultation with Assam forest department has to be submitted by NECF for whatever forest area has been broken up, of around 57 hectares, out of the total 98.59 hectares,” the statement said.

“The other condition being for the rest of the unbroken area, the user agency, NECF needs to submit a feasibility report for exploring underground mining. NECF has not yet submitted the report for consideration of the ministry. Green signal from NBWL and forest clearance for the project is yet to be received for starting coal mining activity in Tikak OCP,” it added.