From Our Correspondent
Jowai: The District Magistrate, West Jaintia District has issued an order banning digging of sand from the river beds of Umiurem River.
The District Magistrate has promulgated Section 144CrPC upon the complaint received from the owner of paddy fields of Shangpung village under Laskein Block that rampant digging of river sand has caused serious soil erosion to the embankments of the paddy field adjacent to the river.
It also found that such illegal digging have also caused destruction to the protection wall which was constructed by the Soil Department to protect the river from eroding the embankment of the paddy field.
This has also affected the aquatic life of the river as sand diggers have started digging sand event from the fish sanctuary as declared by the fishery department.
Extra Assistant Commissioner, West Jaintia Hills District has also submitted the Enquiry Report dated June 18 on the matter after enquiry was conducted, in the report the EAC has mentioned that total band on digging sand from this river should be imposed as soon as possible as the paddy fields, protection wall and the fish Sanctuary faced the threat of destruction.
The boats used by sand diggers will be seized immediately and destroyed.