TURA, Aug 31: Controversy has erupted in Garo Hills where a clan from the Garo tribe has petitioned the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council seeking a stay against the move to mine minerals that was allegedly given clearance by the state’s forest department.
The area in question is Dajongpara village, located on the Rongsai road, in the Bajengdoba block jurisdiction area of North Garo Hills district. The state forest department has been accused of giving clearance for mining in two parts of the land, one covering 9 hectares and another 4 hectares.
The land reportedly belongs to the Juri clan of the Garo tribe and the state forest department has been accused of giving the clearance for setting up a stone quarry in the said land.
Members of the Juri clan have met with the GHADC authorities, this week, seeking cancellation of the permission and questioning the “over-stepping” of jurisdiction by a state government department in an area of the district council governed under the 6th Schedule.
The Juri Mahari (Clan) in their petition to the GHADC has categorically clarified that the state cannot decide on leasing out or allowing any economic activity on tribal land since it does not fall under the general area.
Social organisations like the Niksamso Garo Community organisation have rallied in support of the clan fighting to stop the handing over of their land for mining purposes. They point out that any mining activity ultimately leads to destruction of the environment, erosion of the natural soil and drying up of the rivers and water bodies.
