Boko: Unidentified miscreants continue to take advantage of night hours for mining the Dholmara hills near Langkona village under the Boko revenue circle. The incident came to light when a villager from Raimapur, located near Langkona, anonymously reported the activity. The site falls within the jurisdiction of the Bamunigaon Forest Range Office.
When contacted, Range Officer Aminul Islam stated that he conducted an investigation and asked those cutting the hills to produce documents proving permission for the activity. However, the individuals claimed to possess such documentation.
Meanwhile, Purna Langthasa, Lat Mandal of the Boko Revenue Circle, said that during his two-month tenure, no one had sought permission for mining in the area. This raises further questions about the legitimacy of the operations.
Villagers in the Langkona area voiced frustration over the ongoing deforestation and hill mining, emphasizing the environmental impacts. One resident expressed, “These activities contribute to global warming. Now, we’re using fans and ACs in November when we should be wearing sweaters and jackets. Ten years ago, November was much colder, but deforestation and hill cutting have changed the weather. We are suffering because of this.”
Locals also criticized the Forest Department, accusing it of focusing primarily on patrolling National Highway 17 while neglecting rural and remote areas. One resident alleged, “The range offices under Kamrup West Division have failed to control deforestation, illegal charcoal businesses, human-elephant conflicts, forest encroachment, and other serious issues in the reserve forests.”
Protection Range Officer Chabin Das admitted that their inability to act effectively was due to a lack of resources, including vehicles needed for patrols and enforcement.
In an effort to combat these illegal activities, Kamrup’s District Commissioner and District Magistrate, Deba Kumar Mishra, recently announced the formation of seven task forces. These task forces, assigned to North Guwahati, Palashbari, Hajo, Boko, Kamalpur, Chaygaon, and Rangia revenue circles, were created to prevent unauthorized hill cutting, earth excavation, and the collection of boulders and sand. They have been directed to conduct surprise checks and take action against offenders as per existing regulations. The task forces will also submit action reports to the District Commissioner through designated monitoring officers. Each task force is led by a Circle Officer.
The effectiveness of these task forces remains to be seen as local communities wait for tangible action against ongoing illegal activities.
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