Two trucks laden with minor minerals seized

 From our Correspondent
DIGBOI, May 10: A team of forest staff apprehended and seized two trucks loaded with minor minerals being transported from zirating Ghat on Wednesday evening on NH 38 at Ramgar under Digboi Police Station.  According to forest staff on duty, the two vehicles NL05 A 8528 and AS23 AC 3219 loaded with illegally obtained sand were seized by the forest department.  Meanwhile, when asked, one of the drivers said, “I have no documents with me, but we helped the forest department so many times earlier.” According to him, based on ‘good relationship’ with the forest officials, the contractor Bholla Bhatta of Digboi was carrying on the trade.  When contacted, Bhatta ironically remarked, “Offence is a part of the trade and this is a regular phenomenon.”  However, the statements raise several questions regarding the competency and efficiency of the department concerned in checking exploitation of minor minerals from the river beds in and around Digboi. The recent arrest of two miscreants by Tirap DC and DFO, acting swiftly upon instruction from Chief Minister Pema Khandu, must serve as a lesson for the Assam Government to check illegal mining which is being carried out ubated in the entire division.