‘If there is illegal coal mining in Sivasagar, send me photo with location, I will act’: Himanta

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has challenged those claiming that illegal coal mining is taking place in Sivasagar district to provide photographic evidence along with the geographical location, saying he would take action if the allegations are found to be true.
 

“If somebody says there is illegal coal mining in Sivasagar, send me the photograph with the geographic location. I will take action,” Sarma said.
 

Sarma said the state government had repeatedly sought information from the Mining and Geology Department on the alleged coal mining activities in Sivasagar, but the department had maintained that there was no illegal coal mining in the district.
 

He said coal mining is taking place in Nagaland, but not in Nazira in Sivasagar district, and that the two should not be conflated.
 

“People are now saying coal mining is in Margherita. What is the relation of Margherita coal mining with this?” he asked, reiterating that his statement was specifically about Sivasagar district.
 

Sarma said he had asked the Mining Department several times to verify the allegations and that he would personally intervene if evidence of illegal mining in Sivasagar was produced.
 

“I have asked the Mining Department several times, but they said there is no illegal coal mining,” he said.
 

The chief minister urged people to distinguish between areas where coal mining is actually taking place and those where there is no such activity, while calling for specific evidence to substantiate allegations of illegal mining.