ACCC Bhandari flays unregulated coal mining practices

DIMAPUR — Following an unfortunate incident in which six persons loss their lives and four other sustained serious injuries inside an illegal ‘rat hole’ coal mining at Yanmhon area near Ruchan village on January 25, the 40 Bhandari Assembly Constituency Congress Committee (ACCC) has raised serious concern regarding unregulated coal mining practices taking place in certain pockets in Wokha district.

While expressing grief over the tragic incident, ACCC Bhandari pointed out that such unregulated coal mining practices not only pose a serious safety hazard but also contribute to the loss of biodiversity, impacting the socio-economic conditions of the people in the long run.

ACCC Bhandari has accused the state government of either ignoring or failing to regulate proper law and act for mining minerals. It claimed that the absence and non-implementation of such regulations have resulted in tragedies for the coal mine owners, labourers and the landowners.

The Congress party has urged the government to investigate the tragic incident and compensate the deceased and injured workers as well as the coal mine owners on humanitarian grounds.

“If the state government fails to take stock of the case at the earliest, they may also be held liable for failing to protect the rights of people as per the provisions of the law of the land,” it maintained.

Meanwhile, the 40 Bhandari Assembly Constituency Congress Committee (ACCC) conveyed condolences to the bereaved family members and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the incident.

Also read: 6 killed, 4 injured in ‘rat-hole’ mine accident in Wokha