Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wants proof. He challenged critics who claim illegal coal mining plagues Sivasagar district to provide photographic evidence and precise geographical locations. If the claims hold up, he promised swift action.
"If somebody says there is illegal coal mining in Sivasagar, send me the photograph with the geographic location. I will take action," Sarma said. The state government repeatedly grilled the Mining and Geology Department about these allegations. The department maintains that zero illegal mining activity occurs in the district.
Sarma separates fact from fiction. Coal mining happens in Nagaland, but not in Nazira, located in Sivasagar district. He warned against mixing up different regions. Critics also point to mining in Margherita, but the Chief Minister dismissed this as irrelevant to the situation in Sivasagar.
He ordered the Mining Department to verify the rumors multiple times. Each time, they returned with a clean report. Now, the burden of proof rests on the public. Sarma insists that residents must stop conflating active mining sites with those that are quiet.
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