Tinsukia: Slush fund helping mafia, militant outfits

Further, the report of the administration also brings out that drug syndicates are being formed with the slush funds generated on a daily basis. “In fact spurt of Opium production, storage, trafficking, sale and consumption are reported in parts of Tinsukia District,” quotes the report.

Regarding the task force, the component of the Forest Department shall comprise one Range Officer, 2 Foresters and 5 Jawans of Assam Forest Protection Force who shall be detailed by DFO Digboi Territorial Division, the Police component shall comprise Circle Inspector of Police, Margherita, Sub Inspector of Police, Margherita and 7 Jawans to be detailed by Superintendent of Police, Tinsukia, and the Component from Coal India Limited shall comprise Chief Security Officer and at least five Armed Home Guards, and whenever Assam Industrial Security Force is made available adequate number shall be attached to the task force by Coal India Limited.

The report further states that the Joint Task Force shall conduct sustained raid operation, destroy illegal mines, seize illegally mined and stocked coal, seize all machinery and tools utilized for illegal mining and illegal production of coke. “The task force shall seal all premises utilized for illegal mining, stocking coal and distribution of illegal coal & manufacture, sale, storage and distribution of coke thereof, seize vehicles used in the illegal operations related to coal – coke business, arrest people involved in illegal activities under relevant provision of Criminal Procedure Code, Forest Conservation Act, Coal Nationalisation Act etc,” quotes the report of the administration.

Regarding illegal Coke Bhattas, the Joint Task Force shall conduct raids on Coke Bhattas and take necessary action to seal the illegal Coke Bhattas etc. “The source of coal used for coke, the presence of illegal/unaccounted coal and coke, lack of appropriate authorisation from Pollution Control Board, violation of Exclusion Zone from Coal Mining areas etc. shall be some of the methods and criteria for determining the legality,” quotes the report.

The Task Force will also cooperate with members from the Pollution Control Board, Factories Department, Industries & Commerce Department, Sales Tax Department and other departments on an as is - need is basis, and the Superintendent of Police, Tinsukia has also been directed to stop entry of illegal Coke into Tinsukia district from Arunachal Pradesh, especially from the Lohit and Changlang Districts.

“The movement of coke Arunachal Pradesh are hereby stopped and no consignment of Coke from Changlang District, Arunachal Pradesh – Lohit District Arunachal Pradesh shall move into Tinsukia district either for sale within Tinsukia district or to any other place beyond Tinsukia district,” quotes the report of the administration.

The report further adds that, all illegal Coke from Arunachal Pradesh attempting entry into the Tinsukia district shall be seized by the police and handed over to the Joint Task Force who shall confiscate the consignment as per law and dispose it off as per norms.

The report also adds that the Chief General Manager, Coal India Limited has been directed to ensure necessary stockyard and weighment facilities for storage of seized/confiscated coke, seized/confiscated coal, vehicles and tools used for the purpose that are seized by the agencies involved in the task force.

Also to take appropriate action on the illegal coke bhattas, the Tinsukia district administration has directed the Executive Engineer, Pollution Control Board, Dibrugarh to conduct field inspection along with the Joint Task Force Committee and also to collect air, water and soil samples from coke bhattas.

The report also quotes that the Executive Engineer, Pollution Control Board, Dibrugarh has been directed to take appropriate action against the illegal Coke Bhattas for their closure and also directed to submit action taken report on the 1 and 15 of every month both to the Joint Task Force as well as to the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, Tinsukia.