The National Green Tribunal has left it to the Gauhati High Court to decide a plea challenging approval to mining in Tikak Open Cast Project under Saleki Proposed Reserve Forest in Assam’s Digboi town.
A bench comprising Justice S P Wangdi and expert member Nagin Nanda noted that PILs were pending before the Gauhati High Court in which the issues raised in the present application were also the subject matter under consideration in those cases.
It also noted that a One Man Enquiry Commission had been constituted by the Assam government for enquiry into the alleged illegal mining activities being carried out in the Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve, Saleki Proposed Reserve Forest by Coal India Ltd. and its subsidiaries i.e. North Eastern Coalfields.
