NEW DELHI, July 2 - Congress Lok Sabha member Pradyut Bordoloi on Tuesday demanded constitution of an inter-ministerial fact-finding committee by Government of India to probe the deforestation of rain forests in 17 reserve forest and connivance of officials with coal mafia.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Bordoloi alleged that the 17 reserve forests under Dihing Patkai wildlife sanctuary have been destroyed and slush money generated by the mafia is also going to the two factions of NSCN. Bordoloi had moved an adjournment motion but it was rejected though the issue was allowed to be raised during the Zero Hour. He demanded that the inter-ministerial committee should include representative of the Home, Environment and Forest and Coal ministries.
The last remnants of the rain forest in Tinsukia district have been systematically destroyed by coal mafia. Hundreds of rat hole mines have been dug up by clearing the forests inside Dihing Patkai and scores of poor daily wage labourers working in these illegal coal mines are dying � incidents of which have been hushed up, he alleged.
