Guwahati, May 21: Protests in Assam against the center\u2019s decision to allow coal mining. Amid the ongoing nationwide lockdown, various organizations, wildlife activists, students, and people of Assam have intensified their protests on streets and digital platforms against the center\u2019s decision to allow coal mining in the Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam.<\/p>\n
From All Assam Students\u2019 Union<\/a><\/span> (AASU), Forest Man of India Jadav Payeng to actor Adil Hussain, singer Angarag Papon Mahanta, wildlife activists, environmentalists and many people of Assam have criticized the decision of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) to allow coal mining in new areas of the Dehing Patkai rainforest.<\/p>\n Dehing Patkai rainforest is known as Amazon of East and it has over 40 species of fauna including elephants, several varieties of big cats, bears and the famous Assam Macaque, over 300 species of birds, over 40 species of reptiles, over 60 types of trees and over 100 varieties of orchids.<\/p>\n The Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary itself has an area of 111.19 sq km which is spread over Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts and the National Board for Wildlife has approval to a coal mining project in the Saluki area of the wildlife sanctuary.<\/p>\n The members of All Assam Students\u2019 Union (AASU), All Assam Matak Youth Students’ Union had staged protests in Tinsukia district against the center\u2019s decision by forming a human chain.<\/p>\n The protesters threatened the government to intensify their protests across the state if the decision will not withdraw.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are strongly opposed to the center\u2019s decision. We will send a memorandum to the Prime Minister of India. If the government will not withdraw their decision, then we will intensify our protests across the state,\u201d a leader of All Assam Matak Youth Students\u2019 Union said.<\/p>\n On the other hand, Padma Shri Jadav Payeng \u2013 who is also known as Forest Man of India has appealed to the government to change their decision.<\/p>\n \u201cCoal mining should be stopped to protect our climate and environment. Coal mining in the Dehing Patkai rainforest will severely impact our climate, environment of Assam, and other parts of the North-Eastern region. I appeal the government to change the decision,\u201d Jadav Payeng said.<\/p>\n On the other hand, many people of Assam and outside of the state have protested against the center\u2019s decision in various digital platforms by appealing \u2018Save Dehing Patkai\u2019, \u2018Sava Amazon of East\u2019.<\/p>\n Bollywood singer from Assam Angarag Papon Mahanta tweeted \u2013 \u201cThe world cried when there was a fire in the Amazon! DihingPatkai in Assam is India\u2019s biggest rain forest. We cannot take any further risk with nature in the midst of what we are already going through! It hosts.”<\/p>\n The world cried when there was a fire in the Amazon! DihingPatkai in Assam is India\u2019s biggest rain forest. We cannot take any further risk with nature in the midst of what we are already going through! It hosts a\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/dVS7cXgMRd<\/a><\/p>\n — papon angaraag (@paponmusic) May 19, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n