Boko, Oct 10: Following opposing to the sand gravel mining in Boko River by the people of Lepgaon, Compaduli and other nearby villages, Assam State Forest and Kamrup District guardian Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary visited Lepgaon village in Boko on Wednesday.
Recently, two people including a school student drowned and lost their lives in Boko River at Lepgaon village.
Minister Chandra Moha Patowary along with a team including Kamrup DC Deba Kumar Mishra, Superintendent of Police Ranjan Bhuyan, Kamrup West Division DFO Subodh Talukdar visited Lepgaon area and discussed the matter with the local public.
People from various communities including Garo, Rabha, Boro, Koch Rajbangshi, Gurkha were present in the meeting.
A joint memorandum was also submitted by Garo Students’ Union, Gohlkona Border Area Development Youth Organization, Border Women’s Welfare and the People of Gohalkona, Bamunpara, Lepgaon, Kompatuli, Jongakuli, Kacharipara, Sakati and adjoining arca following under PS- Boko, District- Kamrup (Rural), State-Assam, against the Sand Mining activity from the Boko (Chisol) River to the Minister and other district officials and mentioned eight specific points.
It is to be mentioned that, an Agreement for Mining Contract No. KW/19/Gobalkona (2022-29) Sand Gravel between the DFO, Kamrup West Division and Assam Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. Dispur, Guwahati, Assam was signed on 09-01- 2023.
During the public meeting, Leader of the Border Area Youths Development Organisation Johnson A. Sangma said that due to sand gravel mining the water level of the Boko river is decreasing. Sangma emphasized that the area affected farm lands, drinking water and also polluted the river. Therefore, even the animals have stopped drinking the water.
Sangma also alleged that the mining in the river was being conducted without following the rules and regulations by the government, due to which two people have lost their lives.
Sangma also alleged that dumpers were being overloaded with sand gravels, which would very soon destroy the newly constructed Boko to Kompaduli road.
“Moreover the sand gravel mining is like cancer for this area which threatens aquatic resources, human and the nature of the area” emphasized Sangma in the meeting.
GSU Assam State Zone President Foldin R Marak has requested the Assam CM Himanta Bishwa Sharma and the state government to stop and close the sand mining and transportation immediately. He also said that the union with the people of the area will also submit a memorandum to the Assam CM to close the sand gravel mining.
Jonson A. Sangma also said that the Sand Mining of river bed beyond the permissible depth and beyond the permissible locations have endangered the people.
He inform that a villager Late Udhas Sarania drowned on 17th May, 2024, at Lepgaon, and another 15 year old student Late Harshik Pathak, S/o Dhaneswar Pathak from Dakuapara, Boko, lost his life by drowning at the sand mining site of Lepgaon of the Boko (Chisol) River on 4th September, 2024.
He stressed that the unscientific sand mining beyond the permissible depth and permissible locations pose great danger to humans and domesticated cattle and fish in the river.
The joint committee comprising of GSU and other organisations of the area also said that this matter was raised before different dignitaries and officials but no action has been taken yet. “Unless corrective steps are initiated from the authorities at the earliest, we shall be bound to approach the Hon’ble Green Tribunal, New Delhi, to redress our grievances,” they warned.
Meanwhile, members of the GSU Hahim Regional unit complained and submitted a memorandum that due to the illegal sand and gravel mining from Hahim river, two wild elephants died in the river. So the GSU Hahim Regional unit urged the forest minister to take action against the matter.
In response, Forest Minister Chandra Moha Patowary said, “Two people died including one school student in Boko River and Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Bishwa Sharma noticed the matter. Later CM directed us to include Kamrup District DC, SP and West Division DFO to visit the area and discuss the matter with the local public. We listened to the problems faced by local people from the sand gravel mining which was done by the Assam Minerals Corporation. We will file a report to the Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Bishwa Sharma and will take appropriate action on this matter.”
WATCH:
Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.
Also, Follow us on-
Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub
Youtube channel-Â www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020
Instagram-Â www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub
Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub
