Coal India arm North Eastern Coalfields (NEC) reported that its mining operations in the Tikak Open Cast Project (OCP) under the Saleki Proposed Reserve Forest in Assam's Digboi are currently on hold and awaiting final approval from the Centre. The miner stated that it is in the process of complying with the stipulations and conditions laid down by the National Wildlife Board (NBWL) and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and Climate Change for Mining Coal in Tikak OCP.
Operations in the project have been suspended since October 2019 under the Assam Forestry Department Directive and are "waiting for phase II clearance" from the Centre, according to a statement issued by the NEC on Tuesday.
"Green signal from the NBWL and forest clearance for the project are yet to be received for starting coal mining activity in Tikak OCP," it said.
The Assam-based coal production unit of the Maharatna PSU also needs to submit a feasibility report on the exploration of underground mining, which is still to be submitted to the Center for consideration.
The NEC applied to the Assam Government for forest clearance in 2003 and then a further request was made in 2012, the miner said, adding that the in-principle approval was granted by the Center with 28 conditions.
One of the conditions for approval was to obtain approval from NBWL.
"The final clearance, which is stage-II, for this project, will be granted by the Union ministry after fulfilment of certain conditions by the project proponent, NEC, and only then extraction of coal can be done," an official said.
Last month, the Assam Forest Department levied a penalty of Rs 43.25 crore on PSU Major Coal India Ltd for carrying out "illegal mining" within the Reserve Forest for 16 years from 2003.
At the April 2020 meeting, it was decided that a site-specific mine recovery plan, in consultation with the Assam Government, should be submitted to the NEC for approximately 57 hectares of forest area broken down by mining.
Post nationalization of coal mines in 1973, the collieries operating in Assam were transferred to CIL for a lease period of 30 years until April 2003 and the concept of compulsory clearance prior to coal mining was not in place at that time.
It only came into force after the notification of the Forest ( Conservation) Act, 1980, the NEC pointed out.
Opposition Congress, All Assam Students' Union (AASU), conservationists, activists and students have threatened to stage protests if coal mining is allowed in areas bordering the Dehing-Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, nicknamed the Amazon of the East.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has ordered Environment Minister Parimal Suklabaidya to visit the shrine and to conduct a field survey in the light of an uproar against coal mining in the area.
"The distance of Dehing Patkai Wildlife Project is 9.19 km from the mining site and the Gola-Powai elephant corridor is located at a distance of more than 10 km," the miner said.
The company claimed to have contributed to the growth of the local economy from Margherita to Jagun and to have been a major employment generator in the region.
"Of the 1,200 employees, directly employed in NEC, a large section belongs to Assam. This apart, around 3,000 people are indirectly dependent on the employment opportunities provided by coal mining of NEC," the statement said.
With an annual revenue of Rs 405 crore, the NEC contributes more than Rs 100 crore to the government treasury through the District Mineral Fund Royalty and a heap of other taxes.
