Group flags sand mining from river bed in SGH

Baghmara, Nov 27: The Association for Democracy and Empowerment (ADE), Rongara has raised strong objections against the construction company tasked with the construction of the Baghmara – Ranikor, two lane project, after it was found that the company was illegally mining sand from the river bed beside Rongara in the district of South Garo Hills (SGH).
In a complaint to the deputy commissioner of the district, the pressure group provided conclusive proof of the company using heavy machines at two river sites in the district to illegally extract sand and stone gravel. Videos of the same acts were also provided.
The road construction of the highway is being undertaken by two construction companies, namely, Narendra Sharma Construction (NSC) and Niddhi Creative Infrastructure Limited (NCIL) with work starting early last year, 2021.
The two river banks that have taken the damage of the illegal acts of the company were identified by ADE and Rongdi River near Rongara and in Mahadev River near Mahadeo in the same district.
“They are using small, medium and heavy machines to extract the materials from the river sites. These are being done without following due process and in complete violation of the laws. We have met the DC to inform him on the issue and have asked him to take action against the company (s) involved in the act,” informed ADE president for its Rongara regional unit, Xenyan D Sangma.
Sangma added that such acts were causing irreversible damage to the local river environment and was against law as river beds are out of the purview of mining activities.
A copy of the complaint has also been forwarded to the director Balpakram National Park and the DFO of SGH, Baghmara Division.