From Our Correspondent
CHOKPOT (SGH), Nov 15: Concerns over unscientific mining in the Pharomgre area under Chokpot in South Garo Hills (SGH) continue to escalate, with various civil society organisations (CSOs) on Friday seizing illegally extracted minerals from a house in a nearby village. The materials were later handed over to the local police station.
In a release issued by the CSOs, it was informed that a joint inspection had been carried out at the mining site on November 11. The team included the Chokpot Civil SDO, officials from the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), the Police Department, and other relevant government agencies. Representatives from the CSOs were also present as part of the fact-finding and monitoring team.
“During the inspection, no illegally mined materials were visible at the site. However, based on the condition of the area and previous information we had received, we strongly suspected that the minerals had been intentionally hidden in anticipation of the official visit. Despite our repeated requests, the inspection team could not trace any minerals that day, raising doubts that the quarry operators had prior knowledge of the inspection,” the CSOs stated.
However, on November 14, the CSOs received fresh and credible information from concerned residents that the illegally extracted minerals had been secretly packed and stored away from the main site to avoid detection. “Acting immediately on this information, our members rushed to the location. After a thorough search, we discovered 88 boxes of minerals that had been neatly packed and concealed. As responsible citizens and custodians of our land, we seized the hidden materials and promptly handed them over to the Chokpot Police Station for legal action. The seizure was carried out peacefully and responsibly, with public safety and transparency as our foremost priorities,” they added.
The CSOs described the incident as a deliberate attempt to mislead government authorities, violate environmental regulations, and exploit the natural resources of Garo Hills for personal gain.
They condemned the actions of the quarry owner and others involved in facilitating the illegal mining, while demanding immediate legal action against those responsible for the extraction and concealment of minerals.
The groups also urged various government departments—including Forest, SPCB, and the district administration—to conduct follow-up investigations, shut down any unauthorized operations without delay, and issue a transparent report on the status of all mining-related permissions and licences in the area.
“We want to make it clear that the people of Chokpot, along with the united CSOs of the region, will not tolerate the unlawful extraction, transportation, or commercialization of precious minerals from our land. Our natural resources are part of our cultural heritage and must be protected for future generations,” they asserted.
The CSOs further warned that if the government and concerned authorities fail to take timely and appropriate action, they will be compelled to adopt stronger democratic measures to ensure that illegal mining is brought to an end once and for all.
