Two writ petitions are being moved on Thursday in Gauhati High Court in the matter of Dehing Patkai open cast mining approval for Coal India.
First one filed by Mrinmoy Khataniar, advocate as petitioner to be moved by advocate Debajit Das.
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The second one is filed jointly by advocates Vikram Rajkhowa and Santanu Barthakur.
It will be moved by petitioner Barthakur in person.
Also read: Dehing Patkai or Aarey 2.0?
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The matter is coming up before division bench of Chief Justice Ajay Lamba and Justice D Saikia.
Now it remains to be seen what will be the stand of Assam government when stay of approval will be requested.
Earlier, state forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya had said any mining activity could start only after the Centre gives clearance.
Also read: Coal mining in Dehing Patkai only after Centre’s final nod: Parimal Suklabaidya
He was briefing the media in Guwahati on the issue of ‘coal mining’ in Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary last Saturday.
Meanwhile, the decision of the Centre to allow open cast coal mining in Saleki proposed Reserved Forest within Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve has now drawn global attention.
Also read: Dehing Patkai coal mining issue draws global condemnation
The global International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self Determination and Liberalization headquartered at Philippines (IPMSDL) has joined different organizations in denouncing the approval of India’s environment agencies for coal mining in rainforests and protected forest reserves in Assam amid the countrywide lockdown.
Also read: Oh Dehing Patkai! How far is the end?
IPMSDL is a global network of grassroots based indigenous peoples organization, indigenous people’s rights activists and advocates in different parts of the world.