HT Correspondent
MARGHERITA, Jan 21: In Tipong Colliery, Tinsukia district, a new brick syndicate has emerged in place of the earlier coal syndicate with hundreds of stolen bricks being illegally supplied across the 83rd Margherita Legislative Assembly Constituency.
Tipong Colliery, under Northeastern Coalfields (Coal India Ltd, Margherita Tipong), has remained non-operational for several years due to environmental concerns. As a result, the site—including buildings, staff quarters, offices and machinery has fallen into abandonment.
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Taking advantage of these abandoned properties, local vested-interest groups initially looted valuable materials such as iron, copper and brass from the colliery, selling them at minimal prices elsewhere. After depleting these resources, the groups targeted the hundreds of B-Type pucca (permanent) buildings on the premises, stripping tin roofs, iron pipes, doors, windows and British-era bricks.
The bricks were reportedly sold at Rs 1 each to local workers, who then resold them at Rs 5 each to construction sites across the region. This illicit activity has led to the aggressive and continuous demolition of Tipong Colliery buildings.
Tragedy struck on Tuesday at around 1:00 AM when two women, Manju Sah (32) and Sushila Nayak (51), of Tipong staff line were seriously injured as a wall collapsed while they were breaking a building with hammers. They were immediately taken to Margherita Civil Hospital/FRU by those associated with the brick syndicate, without informing the Lekhapani police, NEC CIL Margherita officials, or the district administration. Manju Sah succumbed to her injuries en route, while Sushila Nayak was referred to Tinsukia Civil Hospital but passed away on Wednesday.
Speaking on the incident, Asom Jatiyotabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) Tinsukia District vice-president Kanchan Borah said that after the illegal coal syndicate at Margherita, local leaders are now dismantling Tipong Colliery’s British-era buildings and staff quarters. He described the situation as a reflection of the “irresponsible duty” of NEC CIL Margherita, as the demolition of pucca walls and buildings continues unabated.
AJYCP Tinsukia District Committee has demanded that the local leaders and contractors responsible for looting national property be arrested and that compensation be provided to the families of the deceased.
The incident highlights not only the dangers of illegal demolition but also the urgent need for stricter monitoring and protection of abandoned public properties.
