Udalguri: The vibrant ecosystem in Assam‘s Udalguri district along the Indo-Bhutan border, a treasure trove of natural resources, has long been preyed upon by unscrupulous actors.
This includes contractors, black market traders, and even some officials entrusted with protecting the environment.
The 1990s saw a devastating episode of large-scale deforestation in the Dhansiri Forest Division (formerly Darrang district), with valuable trees vanishing from the Khalingduar Reserved Forest and Bornadi Wildlife Sanctuary, allegedly under government patronage and with the involvement of former insurgents.
This plunder extended to the district’s rivers, where sand and rocks became the new targets. Over the past few decades, contractors and traders, often in cahoots with forest officials and public representatives, have been extracting minerals from the northern rivers, both legally and illegally, using excavators and dredgers.
Reports indicate that excavators and dredgers are used to extract excessive amounts of these resources, primarily for projects outside the district. Hundreds of trucks, often lacking proper documentation, transport these materials. The situation has forced local authorities in Tangla town to restrict movement of such vehicles during peak hours.
Furthermore, the forest department’s own rock and sand depots seem to be flouting regulations. Established for collecting naturally occurring materials, these depots are accused of reckless excavation for profit, disregarding Supreme Court guidelines.
Many such depots, established along the Kulsi, Nonoi, and Kala rivers, reportedly operate without proper permits. Locals allege that depot holders, aided by excavators, violate extraction limits and sell the materials through unregistered vehicles.
The illegal activities extend beyond riverbeds. Stone crushers have mushroomed near the India-Bhutan border, posing a severe environmental threat. These crushers often operate in blatant disregard of regulations, lacking proper documentation and pollution control measures. They’re accused of using agricultural land for their operations and causing excessive noise and air pollution for nearby residents.
Despite the government collecting revenue from these activities, the Forest Department’s alleged inaction raises serious concerns. The department’s silence on illegal mining and its questionable role in legitimizing some operations have drawn criticism from conservationists and citizens.
The lack of action from environmental organizations and student groups has also raised eyebrows. Local residents are demanding a high-level investigation into the Dhansiri Forest Division’s role, including the transfer of potentially corrupt officials. They also call for a halt to illegal mining and the closure of environmentally damaging crushers.
Wildlife activist Jayanta Kumar Das pointed out the dangers of excessive sand mining, highlighting the threat to bridges, riverbanks, and groundwater systems.