Dudhnoi: A protest rally led by the Mothers’ Union of Assam & Meghalaya, along with the Garo Students’ Union (GSU), has brought the issue of rampant sand mining in the Dudhnoi River to the forefront.
Hundreds of frustrated villagers, including women carrying babies, took to National Highway 217 to demand an immediate halt to the destructive practice.
The rally, which saw the participation of over a thousand people from various communities, NGOs, and student unions like the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) and the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), marched from Damra High School Playground to Nokmakundi Playground in the Dudhnoi Legislative Assembly Constituency (LAC).
Mothers’ Union President Soma Marak highlighted the severe environmental impact of sand mining. “The water level in the Dudhnoi River has been decreasing drastically, even during the rainy season. Sand smugglers use motorised equipment to extract sand, causing massive erosion from Dudhnoi to villages in Meghalaya,” Marak said.
Marak pointed out that the Assam government had announced plans to reduce river erosion, with state minister Pijyush Hazarika visiting riverside areas in Dudhnoi along with RHAC Chief Tankeswar Rabha to direct departments to address the issue. However, she questioned the rationale behind spending money on such measures while sand mining in the Dudhnoi River continues unabated day and night.
ABSU advisor Dhiraj Hazowary criticised the sand mafia for wreaking havoc on nature through illegal sand mining and disregarding government regulations. He alleged that forest, transport, and police departments turn a blind eye to overloaded sand-laden dumpers, even when they transport sand without proper challans or exceed permitted loads. Instead, he noted, authorities focus enforcement efforts on e-rickshaws, scooters, and bikes.
Hazowary further alleged widespread corruption, claiming that monthly bribes are being collected from dumpers transporting sand from Dudhnoi to Guwahati. He suggested the involvement of powerful political figures, citing the unhindered passage of over 200 overloaded dumpers to Guwahati daily without any intervention from authorities.
The impact of sand mining has been devastating for local livelihoods. GSU Goalpara district president Bablu Sangma emphasised that decreasing water levels have severely affected agriculture and other occupations in the area.
Sangma stated that multiple memorandums had been submitted to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Deputy Commissioner of Goalpara, and the District Forest Officer (DFO) of Goalpara, but no action had been taken.
He warned that if the government failed to act, the community would initiate resistance movements against sand mining and transportation, holding the government solely responsible for any ensuing consequences.
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