Guwahati: Illegal sand and coal mining continues across several districts of Assam despite repeated interventions by the Supreme Court, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Gauhati High Court, according to a report released by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) spokesperson Reetam Singh on July 31.
The report alleges that illegal mining remains widespread across the state, outlining its environmental, social and economic consequences while highlighting what it describes as persistent gaps in enforcement. Based on judicial records, environmental assessments and media reports, it presents a district-wise account of alleged illegal coal, sand and stone mining activities across Assam. It attributes the continued operations of mining syndicates to weak enforcement and systemic governance failures despite judicial directives.
A key reference in the report is the January 2025 Umrangso mining tragedy in Dima Hasao district, where nine miners were trapped inside a flooded rat-hole coal mine. The report describes the incident as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with the banned rat-hole mining method. According to the report, the mine was about 300 feet deep and was inundated after water entered from a nearby abandoned pit.
Following the incident, the Gauhati High Court took suo motu cognisance through PIL No. 2/2025 and issued notices to seven state government departments seeking explanations over alleged enforcement lapses. The report also cites claims by local organisations that nearly 220 illegal mines were operating in the surrounding area, raising concerns over regulatory oversight.
The report identifies Tinsukia, Dima Hasao, Kamrup, Karbi Anglong, Sonitpur, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Charaideo, Golaghat, Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi, Udalguri, Baksa, Barpeta, Dhubri and Goalpara as districts where illegal extraction of coal, sand or stone is allegedly continuing despite regulatory action.
According to the report, Tinsukia remains one of the state’s principal hotspots for illegal rat-hole coal mining. It alleges that mining has resumed in and around Dehing Patkai National Park and the Margherita-Ledo region despite previous restrictions and judicial intervention. The report also refers to litigation concerning alleged mining activities inside forest areas and notes that the NGT had directed authorities to secure abandoned mine entrances following fatal accidents linked to illegal mining.
The report similarly alleges that large-scale illegal rat-hole coal mining continues in Karbi Anglong. It cites observations made by the Gauhati High Court that hundreds of illegal mines were operating without effective action by the authorities, prompting judicial intervention after the Umrangso tragedy.
Beyond coal mining, the report alleges widespread illegal sand extraction along major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Barak, Bhogdoi, Dhansiri, Disang and Morabharali. It states that districts such as Kamrup, Sonitpur, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat and Cachar have witnessed mining beyond permissible limits, often involving heavy machinery.
According to the report, illegal mining has caused significant environmental damage across the state. It claims that excessive sand extraction has accelerated riverbank erosion, destabilised aquatic ecosystems and heightened flood risks in several districts.
The report cites the Bhogdoi River in Jorhat as an example where prolonged sand extraction has deepened the riverbed, contributing to increased erosion and flood vulnerability. It also alleges that mining activities near Chandubi Lake have led to environmental degradation. Illegal extraction along river systems, it adds, has threatened the habitat of endangered species, including the Gangetic river dolphin.
Coal mining, particularly through the banned rat-hole method, is described as contributing to deforestation, land degradation and contamination of surrounding ecosystems. The report argues that continued mining near ecologically sensitive areas poses a serious challenge to long-term conservation efforts.
The report also outlines the social consequences of illegal mining, stating that mining accidents continue to claim lives while communities living near mining sites face pollution, displacement and health hazards.
It further raises concerns over labour practices, alleging that child labour and bonded labour continue in some illegal mining operations. At the same time, the report acknowledges that mining provides livelihoods for economically vulnerable communities, making the issue a complex policy challenge. It also estimates that illegal mining causes substantial revenue losses to the state through unauthorised extraction.
The report devotes a separate section to judicial interventions aimed at curbing illegal mining. It notes that the NGT banned rat-hole mining in 2014 due to its hazardous nature and environmental impact, and that the Supreme Court subsequently upheld the prohibition while hearing matters related to mining safety and environmental protection.
It also refers to multiple proceedings before the Gauhati High Court concerning alleged illegal mining in Tinsukia and Dima Hasao, including directions seeking compliance reports from government departments and action against continued violations. The report further cites proceedings before the NGT relating to alleged illegal sand mining in Baksa and other districts.
Despite these judicial interventions, the report argues that enforcement on the ground remains inadequate, allowing illegal mining networks to continue operating across several parts of Assam.
The report concludes with a series of recommendations to the APCC, including launching public awareness campaigns on illegal mining, pursuing public interest litigation, advocating stricter enforcement of mining regulations, expanding the use of drone surveillance, and working with local communities and civil society organisations to monitor illegal mining activities.
It also recommends legislative reforms to strengthen action against illegal mining, establishing support programmes for families affected by mining-related accidents, and promoting alternative livelihood opportunities such as eco-tourism in mining-affected regions.
According to the report, India has an adequate legal framework to regulate mining, but poor implementation remains the principal challenge. It argues that stronger monitoring, coordinated enforcement and greater accountability among authorities are essential to curb illegal mining and protect Assam’s forests, rivers and biodiversity.
The report states that its findings are based on judicial records, environmental assessments and media reports. It notes that its allegations regarding the scale of illegal mining, enforcement failures and alleged official complicity require verification by the investigating agencies and the authorities concerned.
It concludes that unless enforcement is strengthened and institutional reforms are implemented, illegal mining will continue to pose serious environmental, economic and public safety challenges across Assam despite repeated judicial intervention.