Assam: Illegal Sand Mining Rampant in West Kamrup Forest Division

A CORRESPONDENT

PALASBARI: Illegal sand mining continues unabated across multiple locations within the jurisdiction of the West Kamrup forest division, raising serious environmental and public safety concerns. Sources allege that these activities are being carried out in blatant violation of government regulations, with the silent complicity of certain officials within the department.

 Despite the fact that no sand quarries have been officially approved in any river ghat under this division, a well-organized network of sand mafias continues operations unchecked. Rather than extracting sand from riverbeds, these groups have turned to excavating agricultural lands, resulting in large-scale damage to the region’s farmland.

  The worst-affected zones lie within the Kulsi forest range, particularly in areas such as Ghoramara and Takradia. Here, vast stretches of cultivable land have been dug up, leaving behind deep craters that have rendered the land barren and unfit for farming.

  Of particular concern is the situation near Ghatnagar Middle English School, where illegal mining operations carried out with the help of heavy machinery have disrupted the school environment and endangered the safety of students and nearby residents.

 It may be stated here that construction of the newly-proposed Ghoramara–Kukurmara road is also facing serious setbacks, as illegal sand extraction is taking place dangerously close to the construction site. Fears of soil erosion are mounting, and the relentless movement of overloaded sand-carrying vehicles has left the roads in a state of disrepair. Deep potholes have formed along major routes, including the Ghoramara–Kukurmara and Ghoramara–Chhaygaon roads, making travel increasingly hazardous for the local population.

 Farmers, too, are bearing the brunt of this environmental damage. The large pits left behind in the fields have disrupted water retention, creating a serious irrigation crisis that has stalled paddy transplantation. Many farmers have reported that they are unable to plant their crops due to the lack of water.

  Alarmed by the worsening conditions, local farmers and residents have urged the forest department to intervene and bring an immediate halt to these illegal operations before further damage is done.

Also Read: Protest erupts in Bajali against rampant illegal sand mining

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