Stone mafia continue mining in Madhura, defying High Court embargo

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR: Stone mafias under political patronage play havoc with nature and its greenery and go on rampage, as if it were, to extract forest materials by deploying JCB machines and heavy duty trucks for digging and carriage and the helpless villagers have only to watch and wonder to think 'change of government' at Dispur does not change for anything better. The story of rampant loot of forest materials from Madhura river of Chailtapur and Binodnagar villages under Udharbond forest range of Cachar was carried by The Sentinel in its issue of June 18 and the complainants bypassing the Forest Minister Parimal Shuklabaidya addressed their petition for redressal to the Chief Minister to save nature and their settlements.

The ground reports with The Sentinel show the same story of villages along Madhura river, known for its heavy stone deposits rolling down from the hills of Dima Hasao. Anil Das and Mintu Ranjan Tanti, the residents of Madhupur village, said the Honourable Gauhati High Court in response to the writ petition vide case no. PIL 59/2018 filed by Agronee Club of Udharbond pleading for putting ban on extraction of stone from Madhura river endorsed it, but allowed mining in the mineral units of Dayang, Thaikul, Dora and Michikhur in the upper reaches vide its order dated 24.0.2018. The High Court in its earlier order dated 22.6.2010 and 25.2.2015 also restricted mining in Madhura river. But, eye witnesses say no truck is seen moving to the four mineral units due to difficult and inaccessible terrain.

But, the successful bidders for tender, pointed out Anil Das, Mintu Ranjan Tanti and Bapan Malakar, BJP workers, hardly care for the directive or order of the High Court and go for reckless extraction of stones deep down the river bed and the entire river system is violently disturbed as the photographs show. Both sides of the river are being widened manually and mechanically for the stones, endangering human settlements. River bed is almost divested of the stones. Still, the successful bidders for tender have no alternative than to take recourse to mining in Madhura and it goes on. And in the process, the state exchequer heavily suffers as the bidders pay Rs 3,000 only per truck against the mandated rate of Rs 7,000. Against Rs 7,000 for permit per truck, the payment is made to the tune of Rs 1700 only, BJP workers allege.

The High Court however how ever gave the option to aggrieved persons to ventilate their grievances in an appropriate manner should an occasion arise. In adherence to the Court's order, a copy of which is with The Sentinel, under the leadership of Anil Das, BJP organising secretary of Madhura GP, members of the saffron party ventilate their aggrieved voices in a chorus before the forest beat office and the trucks collecting stones. Anil Das regrets "Our party is in power, but we are helpless in the absence of any moral support from our MLA of the area and leaders." The image of BJP is badly being tarnished, pointed out Suman Das. Trucks are seen in action along the long course of river up Thaligram under the tutelage of mahaldars. He however admits their sustained protest has yielded some positive result.  

Also Watch: The Mores: Lets Talk Lifestyle & Fashion