GUWAHATI, Jan 10: Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP from Assam, Gaurav Gogoi slammed the state government over the coal mine tragedy in Dima Hasao district, stating that the mishap was not an isolated incident and that the menace of illegal mining has been prevalent in the region for years.
Gogoi took part in a state-wide protest on Friday against the tragic incident where eight coal mine workers remain trapped inside the quarry in the 3 Kilo area of Umrangso amidst intensive efforts on the part of multiple agencies and experts to dewater the flooded mine using high suction pumps (capable of pumping out 500 gallons per minute) on day five of the search and rescue operations.
“This tragedy is not an isolated incident. The issue of illegal mining in the region has been ongoing for years, with numerous such accidents reported in the past,” the Congress leader said.
“We demand exemplary punishment for those responsible for these illegal activities and adequate compensation for the families of the victims,” Gogoi said.
“The Union government confirmed the presence of rat hole mines in Assam as per publicly available data shared in the Lok Sabha in 2019. Moreover, the Union government also confirmed that the Assam government was aware of illegal coal mining in forest areas in the state,’ he said.
“Most recently, the Justice Brojendra Prasad Katakey report of 2021 confirmed that rat-hole mining is flourishing unchecked in the region,” he added.
The Congress MP also took a dig at the Assam chief minister, saying, “Instead of touring the country and the world, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma should focus on what is happening in the state. He should take full accountability for this terrible tragedy.”