Illegal coal mining in Assam’s Tipam Hills
The Gauhati High Court on February 4, 2025, directed the Assam government as well as concerned authorities to monitor and supervise the Tipam Hills area so that illegal mining by coal smugglers can be prevented.
The HC also directed protection of monuments belonging to the Ahom Dynasty in Assam.
A PIL was registered suo motu by the HC taking into consideration a newspaper report dated April 5, 2018. The report noted that illegal activities were being carried out by coal smugglers in the Tipam Hills area under the Digboi subdivision, resulting in the destruction of the historic area.
After issuance of notice to the state and other respondents, several compliance reports have been filed before the HC, wherein it has been submitted that the illegal mining activities have now been stopped, and regular monitoring is being done.
T J Mahanta, amicus curiae, submitted that after the compliance reports filed by the state and other respondents, no illegal activities are being witnessed in the Tipam Hills from the last two years.
However, he added that the state should be directed to continue the monitoring and supervision so that illegal mining activities cannot again be carried out by coal smugglers.
The court, taking into consideration the submission made by the Director, Directorate of Archaeology, disposed of the PIL with a direction to the authorities to complete the exercise expeditiously, preferably within a period of six months and thereafter take effective measures for protection of the historical monuments relating to the Ahom Dynasty in Assam.