GUWAHATI: The Rabha Hasong Autonomous Council has embarked on a drive against illegal sand mining in areas under its jurisdiction across Kamrup and Goalpara districts, which are in close proximity to the Assam-Meghalaya border.
As part of the operation, seven executive members of the council visited two illegal sand mining and stock sites at Pakharapara village under Boko and Roumari village under Singra Forest Range on Saturday.
The visiting delegation appealed to the villagers of the forest range to keep close eye on the menace so that such illegal sand mining in the Boko and Singra rivers, which has been prevalent over several years now, is curbed.
“We have decided to close all the illegal sand mining sites under RHAC area from today and people have been asked to be vigilant against the menace,” Phanindra Rabha, an executive member of RHAC, told the media following the visit to the sites.
He was accompanied by RHAC vice chairman, Rama Kanta Rabha, executive members, Sumit Rabha, Nagarmal Swargiyary, Sonaram Rabha, Frylin R. Marak and Aditya Rabha.
The delegation sensitized the villagers against use of machines while mining sand in the rivers, which is not permitted by the government and hence illegal.
Rabha further said that villagers have lodged several complaints against the activity with the council.
As a consequence of the activity, villagers complained that river erosion has been going on in their villages every year and many bighas of paddy farm lands have been destroyed.
Besides, village roads of the area have been totally damaged due to such activities.
The delegation further requested the authorities of the forest range to take necessary action against the illegal mining.