Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding illegal mining in Raniganj's Egra, Asansol district of West Bengal, 17/10/2023
The Eastern bench of the NGT took up suo-motu the matter of illegal mining in Raniganj's Egra, Asansol district of West Bengal. The court directed notice be issued to General Manager Eastern Coalfields; District Magistrate, Paschim Bardhaman; Member Secretary, West Bengal Pollution Control Board and Commissioner of Police, Asansol-Durgapur.
The court, October 17 took note of the news which appeared in Times of India, October 13, 2023 on the illegal mining which took the life of 3 and 10 were reported missing after a cave-in in Egra.
The unguarded open-cast mine was a part of the Narayankuri colliery of Eastern Coalfield Limited (ECL). Police officials have said that they had written to Eastern Coalfield Limited multiple times to fence off the area and install lights but no major action has been taken. Witnesses said around 25-30 men had entered the mine after ECL's contractual workers had left.