Tinsukia: Organisations representing communities from the Tirap Tribal Belt have opposed a proposed open-cast coal mining project by North Eastern Coalfields (NEC) at Saliki village in Lekhapani under Margherita in Tinsukia district, alleging that the move threatens indigenous land rights and biodiversity.
At a press conference, representatives of several tribal bodies, along with residents of Saliki village, accused NEC, Margherita — a subsidiary of Coal India Limited of making unilateral preparations to begin mining operations without adequate consultation with affected villagers.
The leaders alleged that a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the project was secured during a Tirap Colliery Gaon Panchayat meeting without the knowledge or informed consent of the people of Saliki. They described the development as arbitrary and contrary to the interests of indigenous communities residing in the area.
Nayung Mossang, president of the All Assam Tangsa Students’ Union, said that during the British colonial period in 1943, the Tirap Frontier Tract was created with its headquarters at Margherita to protect indigenous aboriginal communities such as the Singpho, Tangsa, Sema Naga and Tai-speaking groups including Tai Phake and Tai Khamti.
He added that after Independence, the Government of Assam formally notified the Tirap Frontier Tract as the Tirap Tribal Belt through a notification dated March 13, 1951, with the aim of safeguarding the land, culture and rights of indigenous tribal populations. He also noted that the area was historically part of the erstwhile North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) prior to administrative reorganisation.
Alleging that NEC management was attempting to convert the historic Saliki village into a coal dumping site, Mossang warned that such an initiative would severely impact the region’s biodiversity and undermine its historical and cultural significance.
The protesting organisations demanded clear demarcation of project boundaries, maintenance of prescribed safety distances, adoption of scientific and environmentally sustainable mining practices, and implementation of proper rehabilitation and welfare measures for affected residents. They also called for reservation of employment opportunities for local youth and adequate contractual benefits for local stakeholders.
The tribal bodies said they would continue to resist any move that, in their view, dilutes the constitutional and historical protections afforded to indigenous communities of the Tirap Tribal Belt.