Boko: Hundreds of villagers, including women and children, staged a protest against the state forest department, demanding an end to sand gravel mining in Gohalkona, Lapgaon, and Kompaduli from the Boko River.
The protest coincided with World Environment Day and was organised by the Border Area Development Youth Organisation, which also conducted a tree plantation drive in the area.
Participants from Gohalkona, Jongakhuli, Komaduli, Lepgaon, and Katholpara joined the day-long program. Prior to the protest, villagers visited the site of a tragic incident where Uday Sarania from Lepgaon village lost his life in the Boko River on May 17 while bathing. Villagers paid floral tribute to his photo and prayed for him at the spot, alleging that the accident resulted from the ongoing sand gravel mining. They are now demanding financial aid for his family from the Assam state government.
Jonson Sangma, President of the Border Area Development Youth Organisation, expressed frustration over repeated, ignored appeals to various officials, including the SDC, Ranger, DC, DFO, and the Forest Minister, to halt the mining activities. “The sand gravel mining started on January 25, 2023, and since then, the river water has become unusable and polluted. People can no longer use the water for bathing or other purposes, and even cattle refuse to drink it,” Sangma stated.
Sangma highlighted the environmental impact of unregulated sand gravel mining, noting that it alters riverbeds, increases erosion, changes channel morphology, and disrupts aquatic habitats.
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Mining has led to loss of stability in stream channels, threatening native species, and contributes to increased flooding and sedimentation in rivers and coastal areas. It reportedly affected local drinking water wells, causing water scarcity and significant loss of biodiversity.
Speaking on the matter, Singra Forest Range Officer Bhargabh Hazarika assured that he would investigate the matter thoroughly and take necessary action.
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