Itanagar: Union Minister of State in the PMO, V Narayansami, on Wednesday denied BJP's allegation of involvement of insurgent groups in illegal coal mining at Namchik-Namphuk coal block in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh.
"There is no such report. The inquiry initiated by the Changlang district administration revealed that no insurgent group is involved in illegal mining in the area," Narayansami told a press conference here.
"I have discussed the matter with Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and the state government has presented me a status report on extraction of coal in Namchik-Namphuk coal block," the minister said.
He said the Changlang district administration and police have been instructed to take steps to stop rat hole mining by local residents and in a few cases criminal cases have been registered, Narayansami said.
At a press conference earlier this month, the BJP had alleged while citing a letter written by the Union Home Ministry that insurgent groups were involved in illegal coal mining.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, September 12, 2012, 16:16