Tura, March 13: A self styled social activist and former student leader from South Garo Hills has landed himself in stormy waters after his name was revealed as the operator of the stone quarry that is threatening the ecological survival of the highest waterfall in the region- Re’nang waterfall in Siju-Karukol area of South Garo Hills.

On Wednesday, leaders of the Garo Students Union, Karukol unit, submitted a petition to South Garo Hills deputy commissioner in Baghmara seeking a stay to the mining permit given to Greneth M Sangma of Mindikgre village.

Greneth Sangma was once the president of the Mindikgre unit of the Garo students union who raised a plethora of issues, ranging from student activities to the environment, before rebranding himself and putting on a facade as a self proclaimed “social activist”.

The Karukol GSU stated in their petition to the district administration that the Nokma of Nokatgre village provided the No Objection Certificate and even a plot of land from his own A’king land to Greneth M Sangma to mine for stones and boulders.

Suspicions grew this week when the mapping of the land found the area of the mining site extending to arecanut plantations of villagers and within eyeshot of the highest waterfall in the region.

“Our demand is for withhold of the Reconnaissance permit and mining lease under the Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulations) Act, 1957 and the Mineral Concession Rules, 1960,” stated GSU Karukol president Nikkudimush R Marak in their memo to the DC.

They also stated that if the mining goes ahead it would not only lead to destruction of forests and rivers, disappearance of wildlife but would also damage tourism in a permanent manner.

“The rural economy of South Garo Hills depends on betelnut plantations and tourism that will collapse once we allow mining in the forested areas,” said Francis R Marak, general secretary of Karukol GSU.

The impact from mining is not going to be solely on Re’nang Dare, but as well as Jadisil Fish Sanctuary in Siju region, Aginma Wari, Na’kama Cave, Tetengkol and the most famous tourist site of Wari Chora which is a craze not just for locals but even foreign tourists who have been flocking in droves to the place during peak season.

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