Coal mining operations have resumed in a part of eastern Assam’s Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve almost two years after they were suspended following reports of illegal mining in forestlands and protests over its ecological impact.
Union Minister of Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Joshi on Saturday inaugurated the resumption of the mining operations at the Tikok opencast project (OCP) of the North Eastern Coalfields (NEC), a unit of Coal India Limited.
Mining operations in Tikok and the adjoining Tirap OCP were temporarily suspended in June 2020 following reports of illegal mining in forestlands and protests over its impact on the 111.19 sq. km Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary, a subtropical rainforest that was upgraded to a national park in June 2021.