Prohibition on earth cutting along Khapara stretch

FROM OUR STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, July 23: When will the orders to stop the earth cutting works in the Khapara stretch of the Guwahati- Shillong road is executed in spirit of the notification is a big question, even as the District Magistrate of Ri Bhoi district issued a fresh prohibitory order under Section 144 CrPC.

The latest order prohibited any person or organization etc indulging in or resorting to the act of earth cutting at areas under Khapara police station and Patharkhmah out-post.

Going by the past records, the fresh official order issued is a replica of the past warning that never bears fruit. The sand miners and stone quarries continue in their own subtle way to carry out the exercises. Initial reports of the Koint inspection carried by the tiol Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and the district administration attributed the cause of flash floods and erosion of soil to un regulated earth cutting that has affected the tiol Highway 40.

The Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi district could not be reached for her comments on the issue on unregulated earth cuttings that has made the local residents and the commuters of the crucial highway to experience the distress of unimagitive planning.

As a New step, the district administration issued on Thursday stated, “In view that large scale, indiscrimite earth cutting are taking place at areas under Khapara and Patharkhmah out-post which may result in landslides, flash floods and erosion of soil which in turn may lead to the destruction of private properties, houses, dwellings etc in the upper and low lying areas and regions”.