HT Correspondent
MARGHERITA, June 2: In a powerful show of solidarity and outrage, hundreds of coal workers from North Eastern Coalfields (NECL) Margherita and ANE Mining Private Limited staged a mass protest on Saturday morning at the Tikak weight bridge area, voicing strong opposition to a controversial directive allegedly issued by ANE Mining Pvt. Ltd. to suspend contract-based workers effective June 1.
The announcement has sparked widespread panic and anger among the more than 400 affected employees and has raised alarm bells across the local business community.
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According to Pallav Shyam Wailung, General Secretary and Spokesperson of the Tirap Autonomous District Council Demand Committee, the abrupt suspension not only jeopardizes livelihoods but also threatens to destabilize the entire socio-economic fabric of Margherita region, which heavily relies on coal operations for survival.
“A few years ago, six major collieries—Bargolai, Tikak East and West, Ledo OCP, Tirap, and Tipong—were operational under NEC CIL. Over time, due to environmental and other concerns, only Tikak East Colliery (Expansion) remained functional. Now, even that has come under threat,” said Wailung.
He lamented that the 200-year-old Northeastern Coalfields (a subsidiary of Coal India Ltd.), once a symbol of industrial legacy in Assam, has been reduced to ruins due to mismanagement and lack of long-term vision.
“NEC is not just a company. It is a lifeline for Margherita. From rickshaw pullers to shopkeepers, from educational institutions to hospitals, everyone is connected. Shutting down coal production is not just shutting jobs—it’s shutting down lives,” he said.
Wailung drew a sharp contrast between colonial-era governance and the present-day handling of the coal industry:
“The White Sahabs (British-era officials) laid the foundation of industrial growth here. The Black Sahabs (modern-day officials), instead of strengthening it, have looted, exploited, and destroyed this legacy. This is not an accusation; it’s a lived reality,” he remarked.
The closure of all six collieries under NEC CIL has triggered grave concerns, especially given their contributions to local CSR initiatives—supplying electricity and water, operating the VKV School in Bargolai, running the Central Hospital in Margherita, and constructing public infrastructure like latrines and toilets.
“We are now entering dark days in the Margherita region,” Wailung warned, referring to the current industrial stagnation.
The Tirap Autonomous District Council Demand Committee has called for the immediate reopening of Tikak East, Tikak West, and Tirap Collieries, utilizing the existing dumping grounds to resume operations.
“The indefinite closure has plunged our workers into economic despair, and the silence of authorities only deepens the crisis. If Coal India Ltd., Kolkata, fails to respond positively, we will be compelled to take strong measures and intensify agitation in the coming days,” Wailung asserted.
As tensions continue to rise, all eyes are now on the authorities to provide clarity and restore confidence among the coal workers and the larger population of Margherita, who now face an uncertain future.
