HT Correspondent
MARGHERITA, Feb 24: Tribal organisations from the Tirap Tribal Belt have strongly opposed the proposed open-cast coal mining project by North Eastern Coalfields (NEC) at Saliki village, Lekhapani, which falls under Tinsukia district.
Addressing a press conference on Monday, representatives of tribal organisations along with residents of Saliki village alleged that NEC, Margherita, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, is making unilateral preparations to begin open-cast mining without conducting proper consultations or discussions with the affected villagers.
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Leaders of the tribal organisations claimed that a No Objection Certificate (NOC) was obtained during a Tirap Colliery Gaon Panchayat meeting without the knowledge or informed consent of the people of Saliki village. They termed the move arbitrary and contrary to the interests of indigenous communities residing in the area.
Nayung Mossang, president of the All Assam Tangsa Students’ Union, stated that during the British colonial period in 1943, the Tirap Frontier Tract was created with its headquarters at Margherita to protect indigenous aboriginal tribal communities such as the Singpho, Tangsa, Sema Naga, Tai-speaking groups including Tai Phake and Tai Khamti.
He further said that after India’s Independence, the Government of Assam officially notified the Tirap Frontier Tract as the Tirap Tribal Belt vide Notification No TAD/R73/50/43 dated March 13, 1951, with the objective of safeguarding the land, culture and rights of indigenous tribal people. He added that the area was historically part of the erstwhile North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) before administrative reorganisation.
Alleging that the management of North Eastern Coalfields, Coal India Ltd, Margherita, has decided to turn the historic Saliki village into a coal dumping ground, Mossang said the move would affect biodiversity and erase the history and culture of the area. He demanded boundary demarcation, maintenance of safety distance, scientific and environmentally safe mining practices, proper rehabilitation and welfare measures, reservation in employment for local youths and contractual opportunities for local people. He warned that otherwise, strong agitation programmes would be launched in the Margherita region.
The tribal organisations further warned that if NEC proceeds with open-cast mining in violation of due procedures, environmental norms and statutory regulations and attempts to forcibly commence operations, they will launch democratic protests in strong opposition.
