The Assam government on Saturday said no approval has been given for mining at Dehing Patkai forest under Tinsukia-Dibrugarh districts but accepted illegal mining taking between 2003 and 2019 at the site for which 24 senior forest officials are facing “departmental proceedings”.
The Congress was in power from 2001 to 2016. The BJP-led government replaced the Congress government in 2016.
Assam forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya and industry and commerce minister Chandra Mohan Patowary at a joint press conference said the government is committed to protect the environment and forests of the state and would under no condition would allow mining at the cost of its forest cover.
