The Discord Balance Between Infrastructural Growth And Wildlife Conservation:

A Study Of Coal Mining In Dehing Patkai, Assam

Authors: Agrata Das and Ananya Gogoi, Students, National Law University and Judicial Academy, Assam, India

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Abstract India is a mega diverse country with exotic landscapes, rich flora and fauna and wide multiplicity of wildlife. The country has made remarkable progress in its industrial sectors including agriculture, e-commerce, banking, healthcare, oil and gas, railways etc. Coal Mining is another thriving industrial sector in the country which produces more than hundred million tons of coal each year. The coal mining industry can have adverse impacts on the ecosystem and deteriorate its wellbeing thus affecting the wildlife, aquatic life and human life in the long run. Environmental and mining laws in the country are implemented to promote sustainable development and conserve the wildlife. However, the laws lack in certain ways and thus these loopholes have a great effect on the mankind and its environment. Dehing Patkai popularly known as the Amazon of the East is a national wildlife sanctuary in NE India where it is facing the threatening impacts of illegal coal mining even during the tough times of nationwide lockdown because of the COVID- 19 pandemic. The government approval for the opencast coal mining in the sanctuary has further aggravated the concerns of the public. This paper tries to provide a detailed study regarding the illegal coal mining issue in Dehing Patkai wildlife sanctuary. Moreover, it also highlights the irregularities of the government and suggests some recommendation to cope up with the existing loop holes.

Keywords: Wildlife, Coal Mining, Dehing Patkai, Amazon of the East, Environment.

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