Guwahati: Illegal sand mining activities have reportedly intensified at the No. 5 spur of the Jarabari–Panikhaiti area under the Palasbari Legislative Assembly Constituency, raising serious concerns over environmental degradation and public safety.
According to local sources, white sand is being extracted indiscriminately from the Brahmaputra river channel in blatant violation of established norms. Large pond-like pits are allegedly being dug along the riverbed using heavy machinery, posing a grave threat to aquatic life, wildlife habitats and the safety of nearby residents. The unscientific and continuous excavation is said to have significantly altered the natural flow and structure of the river, heightening the risk of erosion and accidents.
Residents claim that the illegal operations are being carried out daily with the use of JCB machines and dumpers, with the extracted sand transported through the Jiakur–Kukumara route despite restrictions on such movement. The ongoing activity has raised serious questions about enforcement, as the Kukumara Forest Beat under the Nagarbera Reserve Forest and officials of the nearby forest depot are allegedly maintaining silence over the issue.
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Local farmers and villagers have expressed deep anxiety, warning that unchecked sand mining could endanger the embankment and the concrete road running along the area. Any breach could lead to flooding, loss of agricultural land and disruption of normal life, especially during the monsoon season.
The affected residents have demanded immediate intervention by the district administration, forest department and other enforcement agencies to stop the illegal mining and conduct a thorough inquiry. They have also called for strict action against those involved, cautioning that continued inaction could trigger an environmental and infrastructural disaster in the region.
