Order of the Gauhati High Court on rat hole mining in Karbi Anglong district, Assam, 28/01/2025
Order of the Gauhati High Court in the matter of In Re-Dima Hasao Tragedy Vs The Chief Secretary, Assam & Others dated 28/01/2025. Pursuant to the order passed by the Gauhati High Court dated January 27, 2025, the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition was being registered.
The matter related to the coal mine tragedy that had taken place in Umrangso of Dima Hasao district of Assam. The HC has taken note of various reports which suggest that around more than 200 rat-hole mines are in operation in Umrangso area. The court has also taken note that in Karbi Anglong district rat-hole mining is rampant and is either going unnoticed or despite having knowledge of the same, the authorities are not taking any action to stop or close those rathole mines.
The Gauhati High Court, January 28, 2025 directed notice to be issued to the Chief Secretary, Assam; Mines and Minerals Department; Environment and Forest Department; Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council; Revenue and Disaster Management and Directorate of Geology and Mining. The respondents were directed to file their response to the PIL and the latest status report regarding the action taken by the Assam government to stop the practice of rat hole mining. The case will be next heard on February 7, 2025.