‘Mining is like cancer for this area,’ says Sangma
Boko: Villagers from Kompaduli, Lepgaon, Bamunpara, Kothalpara, Gohalkona, Kacharipara, and Jongakhuli staged a mass protest rally on Wednesday against sand and gravel mining from the Boko River at Kompaduli village.
The protest was organized by the Gohalkona Border Area Women’s Welfare and Youth Development organisations. Leaders from the Garo Students Union (GSU) Assam Zone and Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS) also participated.
At a public meeting, Johnson A. Sangma, leader of the Border Area Youths Development Organisation, voiced concerns over the environmental damage caused by the mining. He stated that sand and gravel mining had led to a decline in the water level of the Boko River, affecting farmlands, drinking water supplies, and polluting the river. “Even animals won’t drink from the river anymore,” Sangma remarked.
Sangma also alleged that the mining operations were being conducted without following government regulations, resulting in two fatalities so far. He warned that overloaded dump trucks were damaging the newly constructed Boko-Kompaduli road.
“Sand gravel mining is like cancer for this area, threatening aquatic life, people, and the environment,” Sangma stressed.
GSU Assam State Zone President Foldin R. Marak urged Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the state government to immediately halt the mining operations. He added that GSU, along with local residents, would submit a memorandum to the CM demanding an end to the sand mining and transportation.
However, Singra Forest Range Officer Bhagabh Hazarika countered these claims, suggesting that outsiders were inciting local villagers against a government-approved sand mining site. He stated that the Forest Department had made repeated efforts to engage with the community but had received no written complaints about the issue.
“The forest department has designated specific GPS locations for mining, managed by Assam Mineral Development Corporation Ltd for seven years, starting from 2023,” Hazarika said.
Meanwhile, SMSS leader Rahul Choudhury called for continued protests until the mining operations were halted. He threatened further demonstrations at the Divisional Forest Office, Assam Secretariat, or even in front of the Chief Minister’s residence. Choudhury also vowed to raise the issue in the Assembly with the help of Sibsagar MLA Akhil Gogoi.
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