Thousands from Assam & Meghalaya take to streets in support of Mothers' Union’s protest against sand mining

Dudhnoi, Nov 22: The residents of the Damra area under Dudhnoi Police Station are angry that no action has been taken despite repeated written objections to the Goalpara District Commissioner and DFO against sand mining from the Dudhnoi river. As a result, Mothers’ Union Assam & Meghalaya and GSU Assam State Zone took out a protest rally with the support of the people of the area.

During the protest rally, many NGOs from Meghalaya, All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU), KMSS leaders and people from various communities took part and shouted slogans against the sand mining from the Dudhnoi River. More than 1000 people from Garo and other communities from Kalikapara, Damra, Nokmakundi, Kasumari, Patpara, Thengshot, Bakrapur and many other villages from Meghalaya took part in the rally.

The protest rally began at the Damra High School Playground and concluded at Nokmakundi Playground in Dudhanoi LAC. It is worth mentioning that the image of suffering the villagers from sand mining came to light when several frustrated tribal women with babies in their laps came to the National Highway to protest.

Mothers’ Union President Soma Marak said that due to the mining in the Dudhnoi river, the level of the water is decreasing day by day. “Even in the rainy seasons, we see very less water in the river. On the other hand, sand smugglers are using motors to extract the sand from the river and, therefore, massive erosion (has) started in the area from Dudhnoi to several villages in Meghalaya,” added Soma Marak.

She further said Assam government planned to decrease erosion in the river and Assam state minister Pijyush Hazarika has also visited many river side places in Dudhnoi area along with the RHAC Chief Tankeswar Rabha and ordered the department to work for stopping the erosion. She, however, asked, “What is the point of spending unnecessary money on these things when sand mining continues in the river day and night?”

ABSU advisor Dhiraj Hazowary said, “The sand mafia are creating havoc on nature through sand mining by disobeying government regulations for sand mining. On the other hand, departments like forest, transport and police do not see the overloaded sand laden dumpers. Even after carrying sand without challan or less challan while carrying more sand on the dumpers. Police, Transport department only take actions against E-Rickshaws, scooties, bikes etc.”

Hazowary added, “When we requested to stop the sand mining to the Goalpara DFO, he replied that we have to show him the majority against the sand mining. We were shocked at that time and today we warned the DFO to take immediate actions against sand mining otherwise people will stop the sand mining.”

Meanwhile, GSU Goalpara district president Bablu Sangma expressed that they are unable to understand how the sand mining is continuing even after protesting against the it many times. “People are facing problems for cultivation and other works due to the decreasing water level of the river,” he said.

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