A PIL has been filed against the Center’s approval to Coal India for mining inside Dehing Patkai forest. The petition alleges that it violates the Right to Life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The hearing is yet to be listed for at the Gauhati High Court.
The petitioners have made nine respondents in the case — Government of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Assam government, the chief secretary, the principal chief conservator of forest and head of forest force, the principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) and the National Board of Wildlife, the State Board of Wildlife, Coal India and its chief general manager.
The petition highlights that the forest has ecological and cultural importance to the people of Assam and that it is also home to tribes and a lot of rare species. It was alleged that the mining activities started without any approval.
It has also been reported that “The Centre gave the Stage-I clearance to the PSU major for 57.20 hectares in December 2019 with 28 conditions, including fines and action against responsible officers violating the Forest Conservation Act.”
Lawcutor 