Shillong, May 9: The district administration of East Khasi Hills has decided to restrain illegal mining and quarrying on the hill slopes and removal of sand from river-beds without obtaining mining license, quarrying permit and other clearance certificates from the competent authorities.

The order was issued by the District Magistrate I. Laloo after information was received that illegal quarrying and mining on hill slopes and removal of sand from river-beds is taking place in various parts of East Khasi Hills. It was also in compliance with the order of the National Green Tribunal, Principal Bench, New Delhi, restraining any person, company, authority to carry out any mining and quarrying activity or removal of sand from river beds anywhere in the country without obtaining valid mining lease/quarry permit and other clearance certificates prescribed by EIA Notification 2006 of MoEF&CC, Government of India.

“In order to safeguard the environment, do hereby restrain illegal mining and quarrying on the hill slopes and removal of sand from river-beds by any person, company or authority without obtaining mining license/quarry permit and other clearance certificates from the competent authority/(s),” the order said.

It said that such indiscriminate quarrying and mining activities has led to the constant out-flow of stone, sand and other minerals into the rivers and down from the hill slopes which ultimately lead to destruction of vegetation on the slopes, damages the water sources and destroys aquatic life.

Many rivers have become polluted due to stone and sand mining and as such, the water is no longer potable and is unfit for drinking purposes.