Since August 2024, residents of several villages in Margherita's Ledo area have protested over non-consensual land acquisition by Northeastern Coalfields, a unit of Coal India Limited’s (CIL), for dumping of coal mining debris.
More than 700 families expressed fears of eviction as the coal giant expanded its dumping grounds into Ledo's residential areas without adequate resettlement or compensation. Residents also alleged harassment and threats by Northeastern Coalfields (NEC) officials.
Mass protests, led by organizations such as the Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS), have drawn participation from over 2,000 people. Protestors have accused NEC-CIL of forced evictions and environmental negligence.
Over the past few months, residents have also repeatedly raised concerns about the impact of waste dumping on their homes, and farmlands, affecting their overall health, fearing that continued operations could lead to irreparable environmental damage and unjustified displacement.
The protests started after the company issued notices for these families to vacate the area within 15 days to make way for a coal waste dumping ground often referred to as a "coal ash landfill" or "coal refuse area", designated for the disposal of byproducts from coal mining and combustion processes, such as coal ash and mine tailings.
The move is likely to impact communities of Jharna Basti, China Basti, and Malu Gaon no. 1, which collectively house over 1,500 individuals from a diverse range of ethnic backgrounds, including Tangsa, Gorkha, Hindi-speaking populations, Bengali Hindus, Muslims, Manipuris, and Adivasi groups. According to residents, the firm's activities have already destroyed their tea gardens and green spaces central to their livelihood and local ecology.
Despite initial assurances by CIL to halt dumping temporarily, villagers report resumed operations, which has only intensified protests.
A local political leader, who led a delegation to the site, called for negotiations between CIL and affected communities but is yet to achieve a lasting resolution. Community members argue that the Assam government has neglected their rights, pointing out that NEC’s activities have largely ignored environmental norms and the Forest (Conservation) Act’s land-use stipulations. In response, the community has demanded that CIL develop alternative dumping sites that do not encroach on residential zones or forested land.
In Malu Gaon, Nong Yongkuk, President of the Tangsa Jatiyo Parishad, revealed that repeated appeals to key officials—including the General Manager of NEC CIL, Margherita MLA Bhaskar Sharma, and the Tinsukia District Commissioner—had been met with silence.
In addition to environmental degradation, the dumping has spurred social and economic issues. A resident of Jharna Basti stated that a few officers of NEC CIL Margherita came to her house and gave her Rs 2 lakh as compensation for her 25 bighas of tea garden land, which Coal India Limited Margherita had turned into a "coal refuse area". They warned her to vacate her house immediately, threatening to vandalise it with the help of a bulldozer if she did not comply.
Villagers continue to demand that NEC-CIL and the Assam government prioritize ecological preservation and grant land rights.
In March 2024, Saliki village in the historical Patkai hills of the Tirap Tribal belt had become the epicentre of a protest led by the Sema Naga community against the establishment of a Coal refuse area around the village.
While speaking to LCW, community leaders emphasized that as their lands are damaged, they received no aid or resettlement options. One of the community leaders said, "CIL authorities have clearly said that either Coal India will have to be shut down or the communities will have to evacuate their land."
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Complaint against procedural violations
Demand for legal recognition of land rights
Refusal to give up land for the project
Opposition against environmental degradation
Demand to cancel the project
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
1. To stop Coal India Ltd's exploitation 2. To Grant land rights to the communities
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
Forest and Non-Forest, Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land, Residential area, Other Natural Resource extraction/dependence, Government or community-regulated urban commons
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Forced evictions/dispossession of land
Violation of fundamental rights
Lack of legal protection over land rights
Non-consultation with stakeholders
Non-implementation/violation of FRA
Scheduled Tribe status or lack of status
Violation of free prior informed consent
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
No
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Displacement
Blackmail/threats/intimidation
Other harassment
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
No
Reported Details of the Violation:
A local resident of Jharna Basti stated that a few officers of NEC CIL Margherita came to her house and gave her Rs 2 lakh as compensation for her 25 bighas of tea garden land, which Coal India Limited Margherita had turned into a coal dumping ground. They warned her to vacate her house immediately, threatening to vandalise it with the help of a bulldozer if she did not comply. Local residents stated that NEC CIL Margherita officials threatened them to vacate, despite having all relevant identification documents.
Date of Violation
August 13, 2024
Location of Violation
Jharna Basti, Ledo
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Department of Geology and Mining, Assam, Margherita sub-divisional administration
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Northeastern Coalfields, A unit of Coal India Public Ltd.
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Yes
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Northeastern Coalfields, a unit of Coal India Limited (NEC, CIL)
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Yes
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Tangsa and Sema Naga Communities, All Assam Tangsa Student Union (AATSU), Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti, Tangsa Jatiyo Parishad, All Assam Gorkha Students Union (AAGSU), Tirap Autonomous District Council Demand Committee
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
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