Assam: Illegal silt mining unabated in Dibrugarh

A CORRESPONDENT

DIBRUGARH: Illegal silt mining from the Brahmaputra riverbeds in Dibrugarh is posing a serious threat to Dibrugarh town. Due to unabated illegal silt mining from Poolbagan area to Panchali, the historic Dibrugarh is facing erosion threat. Sources said the “sand mafia” are illegally extracting silt from the Brahmaputra river bed near Poolbagan to Panchali posing a serious threat to the entire area.

Sand mafia are allegedly running the illegal business in nexus with some forest officials and the illegal extraction of sand is most rampant at Poolbagan, Panchali areas in Dibrugarh.

“The forest department has failed to act against these sand mafia. Due to continuous silt mining in these areas the Dibrugarh town protection dyke is facing a serious threat,” said a source.

It has been learned that in the middle of Brahmaputra the silt mining has been going on and 15-20 boats were used to carry the silt.

“During mid November, the practice starts every year and the sand mafia collect the silts illegally from river beds. It’s a continuous practice but the district administration has failed to check these illegal practice,” said a local resident.

However, following a series of orders by the National Green Tribunal in 2018, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has for the first time released guidelines to monitor and check illegal sand mining in the country.

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