TURA: As many as seven illegal quarries have come up along the Chibinang-Dadenggre road in West Garo Hills for the past few months supplying minerals to road construction companies at the cost of the environment and losses to the government exchequer.
These quarries, run by individuals or multiple groups, have allegedly been able to get the Nokmas to allow them to mine their land for boulders in return for a sum.
On a normal day, several dozens of trucks carrying illegal minerals move through the Chibinang and Dadenggre route supplying stones and boulders to the road construction companies. The illegal quarrying is taking a toll on the environment as acres of fertile forest land are being turned upside down to extract minerals.
Forest officials under the Hollaidanga forest beat range recently alerted the police and senior government officials about the rampant quarrying for minerals and a surprise inspection by Phulbari police last week led to the detention of three trucks loaded with the materials.
However, the criminals organised themselves and waylaid the trucks while it was being taken to the police station by forest officials. They assaulted the complainant who was in the convoy and fled with the trucks before word could reach the police.
