Boko, 05 June: Hundreds of villagers including women and children took out a protest against the state forest department to stop the sand gravel mining in Gohalkona, Lapgaon and Kompaduli from the Boko river on the occasion of the World Environment Day.

The Border area development Youth Organisation had organised the protest rally along with tree plantation in the area.

Villagers from Gohalkona, Jongakhuli, Komaduli, Lepgaon and Katholpara had taken part in the day-long program. Before the agitation, villagers went to the incident site where a man Uday Sarania from Lepgaon village had lost his life in the Boko river on 17th May of this year, when he went to take bath. Villagers paid floral tribute to his photo and prayed for him at the spot.

However, people of the area alleged the incident happened only because of the sand gravel mining in the area. Now the villagers have demanded financial aid for his family from the Assam state government.

Jonson Sangma, President of the Border area development Youth Organisation said that they are now tired of filing memorandum to the SDC, Ranger, DC, DFO, Forest Minister and other related officials to stop the sand gravel mining. “The sand gravel mining was started from 25 January, 2023 and after that the river water was totally unusable and polluted. Now the people cannot use the water for bathing and other purposes as well cattle’s even don’t drink the water.”

Concerned with the matter, Jonson Sangma emphasized unregulated sand gravel mining alters riverbeds, leading to increased erosion, changes in channel morphology, and disruption of aquatic habitats. Sand gravel mining leads to loss of stability in stream channels, threatening the survival of native species adapted to pre-mining habitat conditions. Depletion of sand and gravel from river beds contributes to increased flooding and sedimentation in rivers and coastal areas.

Altered flow patterns and sediment loads negatively impact aquatic ecosystems, affecting both flora and fauna. Deep pits formed due to sand mining can cause a drop in the groundwater table. This in turn affects local drinking water wells, leading to water scarcity in surrounding areas. Habitat disruption and degradation arising from activities such as sand mining lead to the significant loss of biodiversity, adversely affecting both aquatic and riparian species.

While asking the matter with the Singra Forest Range Officer Bhargabh Hazarika, he assured that he will investigate the matter thoroughly and will take necessary action regarding the matter.

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