Protests erupt in Arunachal's Kharsang against coal mining project

Thousands of people took to the streets in Kharsang, Changlang district, protesting against coal mining and the ongoing auction process for the Namchik-Namphuk coal mine. Local organizations, including Longtom 1, Longtom 2, Panchon, and Injan groups, spearheaded a peaceful demonstration on behalf of land-affected residents, voicing strong opposition to the Central Coal Ministry’s decision to include two coal blocks—Namchik East and Namchik West—in the list of coal production sites.

 

The coal block auction process commenced on February 3, with the financial bid submission scheduled for February 17. However, the proposed open-cast mining activities have sparked serious concerns among the indigenous Tangsa community, who fear large-scale displacement, destruction of their ancestral lands, and irreversible ecological damage.

 

In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, protestors underscored the severe risks posed by the Namchik West coal block (1.035 sq km) under the Namchik-Namphuk coalfield. The document highlighted that Longtom-I and Longtom-II villages—home to over 160 households and more than 1,000 residents—are not just settlements but traditional homelands where generations of the Tangsa community have practiced sustainable agriculture and forestry. The memorandum strongly argued that forced displacement of indigenous communities for commercial mining would violate their constitutionally protected rights and erode their traditional way of life.

Additionally, protestors pointed out that the Longtom area falls within an Unclassed State Forest (USF), a legally protected zone under multiple environmental and indigenous rights laws, including:

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 – Grants indigenous communities legal rights to manage and conserve their ancestral lands.
The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 – Requires strict government oversight for land diversion and deforestation.
The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 – Protects flora and fauna in designated forest lands from commercial exploitation.
Citing these legal provisions, protestors accused the authorities of violating Article 21 (Right to Life) and Article 19(5) (Right to Livelihood) of the Indian Constitution by proceeding with the mining project without proper consultation and consent from affected communities.

Protestors warned that open-cast coal mining in Namchik West is not an isolated project but an expansion of industrial-scale exploitation, following the 2023 auction of the Namchik-Namphuk (Central) Coal Block. They outlined three major threats posed by the project:

 

Deforestation and Loss of Agricultural Land – Large-scale tree felling and destruction of biodiversity will impact climate regulation, soil fertility, and water retention, endangering tea and areca nut plantations, paddy fields, and forest resources vital to local livelihoods.
 

Severe Air and Water Pollution – Mining releases hazardous dust, sulfur dioxide, and toxic metals, leading to respiratory illnesses and contamination of rivers and groundwater. Protestors raised alarms about pollution of the Namphuk River, a critical water source for thousands.
 

Public Health Crisis – Long-term exposure to coal dust and toxic emissions is linked to lung diseases such as silicosis and tuberculosis, along with increased cancer risks. Studies indicate coal-mining regions experience significantly higher mortality rates and severe health conditions compared to non-mining areas.
 

The protestors also accused the Geology & Mining Department of conducting detailed explorations of Namchik West in 2022-2023 without informing or obtaining consent from local communities. They asserted that this blatant disregard for indigenous rights violates the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which mandates Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) before any commercial activities on indigenous land.