Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, AUG 13 (NPN): Konyak Union (KU), Naginimora unit, has rejected allegations that coal mining in Naginimora contributed to the recent Assam floods, attributing the July 19 disaster primarily to prolonged and intense rainfall across eastern Nagaland and adjoining areas.
At a press conference in Naginimora, KU leaders said the region received continuous rain for around 12-34 hours, affecting much of eastern Nagaland and causing heavy downstream flows into Assam. They said Naginimora and surrounding areas are hilly, while Assam lies in the plains, with rivers such as Dikhu and Brahmaputra already carrying high monsoon levels.
The rainfall caused deaths and extensive damage in Nagaland before floodwaters moved downstream.
The union rejected claims that a dam release in Nagaland caused the flooding, saying no such dam exists, and cited wider climate and environmental factors. It also said there was no scientific study establishing a direct link between Naginimora’s coal mining and the Assam floods. Wangkai said mining had been carried out for nearly 30 years without a disaster of similar magnitude.
On allegations of illegal mining, KU secretary Chinge said operations were conducted under government-issued licences, with village NOCs and oversight from the Geology and Mining (G&M) department. Wangkai said the two mining locations, Tiru and Naginimora, operate only from September to March and remain suspended during the monsoon. He also rejected references to a “coal mafia”, saying coal was transported with required documentation.
The union denied that mining caused the Dikhu River bridge to wash away, saying the mining area was more than 15 km from the bridge. Wangkai claimed more than 100 major upstream landslides, mudslides and continuous rain caused an exceptionally high volume of water that swept away the bridge.
KU president Honheih said G&M officials had inspected Naginimora after the allegations surfaced. The union urged people on both sides of the Nagaland-Assam border to avoid a “blame game” and assist flood- and landslide-affected communities. Chinge said the KU had sent four to five truckloads of relief materials to Assam, including assistance for damaged houses and temporary camps, while Assam residents were also helping affected people in Nagaland.
On deforestation, Wangkai acknowledged extensive tree cutting decades ago during the operation of tea plantations, mills and factories, but said families and clans had since undertaken plantation drives. Chinge said deforestation and climate change were global issues and should not be attributed solely to Naginimora or Mon district.
Meanwhile, Naginimora coal miner and coal mining lease (CML) holder Methlow also rejected the “coal mafia” label and allegations linking mining to the floods. He said miners operate under state-issued prospecting licences and CMLs, G&M supervision, and pay royalties, GST and other applicable dues, receiving official challans. He said coal is transported to Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana with required documents.
Methlow explained that the CML process begins with a state-issued coal prospecting licence (CPL) to identify deposits, followed by formalities for a CML once coal is confirmed. He alleged that some accusations were driven by competition in the coal trade and political interests in Assam, and urged that the disaster not be politicised while families mourned.
He said geologists had inspected landslide-affected areas around Naginimora, where more than 240 households had reportedly been affected and some families evacuated due to safety concerns. Data was collected from affected and forested areas to assess soil changes and landslide risks, with stakeholders awaiting a detailed geological assessment to clarify the causes and extent of the damage.