Tikak Colliery of Ledo Assam under threat from Coal India Dumps
Over 700 families in the Tikak Colliery area of Ledo are on the brink of losing their homes due to Coal India Limited’s alleged coal waste dumping practices. Despite months of protests by locals, CIL continues operations, causing environmental damage and threatening the livelihoods of communities
Oh, Coal India Limited, you’ve done it again, haven’t you? Like an uninvited guest who overstays their welcome, you’ve come barging into the Tikak Colliery area of Ledo, making an almighty mess and pretending as though the 700-odd families residing there are nothing more than a nuisance. For months now, these families have been banging on the proverbial door, pleading, “Please, stop dumping your coal mining waste on our land, would you?” But alas, it seems like their voices are as useful as a chocolate teapot, falling on deaf ears at the grand halls of CIL’s corporate headquarters.
Now, it’s not like the residents are asking for the moon. No, they just want to keep their homes and perhaps, if it’s not too much trouble, their tea gardens intact. You know, the ones that have been buried under mounds of coal waste as if someone mistook them for a giant compost heap. But instead of getting a proper solution, what do they get? A company that temporarily halts its waste dumping, only to resume as soon as the dust settles, quite literally. It’s as though they believe the villagers will forget all about it if given a brief respite – out of sight, out of mind, right?
The situation is as clear as mud – or should I say coal dust? Coal India seems to think that dumping debris on people’s homes, destroying their livelihoods, and turning once-lush greenery into a post-apocalyptic wasteland is just another day at the office. But let’s be real here. How on earth is a village supposed to thrive when half of it is buried under rubble? It’s like trying to grow tulips in a cement mixer.
Now, one might think that after months of protests, perhaps the powers-that-be would take a step back and have a rethink. But no, instead, CIL has been more slippery than a buttered eel. They’ve been assuring everyone, left, right, and centre, that they’ll “address the issue” – after consulting with higher authorities, of course. Ah yes, the ever-elusive “higher authorities,” who, one imagines, are likely sitting in their air-conditioned offices, sipping tea (not from Tikak’s gardens, mind you, because those are currently buried), whilst the villagers of Ledo wonder when they’ll get some concrete answers, rather than just coal and debris.
But let’s give credit where it’s due. The local MLA showed up, and for a brief shining moment, CIL’s operations were brought to a halt – a pause button pressed just long enough for the villagers to catch their breath before the whole debacle kicked off again. Temporary relief is all well and good, but what’s needed here is a permanent solution. Because if Coal India continues at this rate, there won’t be much left of Tikak, China Basti, or Jharna Basti to save. You can’t rebuild a home or a community out of broken promises and empty assurances.
Of course, CIL will likely point fingers elsewhere. They’ll say it’s a logistical necessity, or claim that they’ve got the “best intentions” at heart. But intentions are all well and good until someone loses a tea garden – or their home. What we’re dealing with here is an environmental catastrophe of the highest order, not just for the present but for the future. The coal is long gone, and what’s left is an ever-growing pile of waste that threatens to wipe out the land and livelihoods of generations to come.
But here’s the thing – the villagers aren’t going down without a fight. They’ve been staging protests, raising their voices, and rallying together as a community. They know that if they don’t stand up to the likes of CIL now, their homes could be gone faster than you can say “corporate greed.” And frankly, they’ve had just about enough. They’re tired of being brushed off, ignored, and left to pick up the pieces while the coal company continues to run roughshod over their land.
So, what’s the next step? Well, it’s high time for CIL to pull its socks up, stop kicking the can down the road, and offer a real, lasting solution. Because the people of Tikak and its surrounding villages aren’t going anywhere – not unless they’re forcibly moved, that is. And I daresay, if CIL doesn’t start playing ball soon, we might just see this battle go beyond peaceful protests.
It’s about time the powers that be took a long, hard look in the mirror. Coal India, your mess is showing.
Cover Picture and News Sources The Assam Tribune.
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