Assam: Dudhnoi residents protest sand mining impact on water levels and livelihoods

The residents of the Damra area under Dudhnoi Police Station are angry that no action has been taken despite repeated written objections to the Goalpara District Commissioner and DFO against sand mining from the Dudhnoi river. As a result, Mothers' Union Assam & Meghalaya and GSU Assam State Zone took out a protest rally with the support of the people of the area. 

During the protest rally, many NGOs from Meghalaya, All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU), KMSS leaders and people from various communities took part and shouted slogans against the sand mining from the Dudhnoi River. More than one thousand people from Garo and other communities from Kalikapara, Damra, Nokmakundi, Kasumari, Patpara, Thengshot, Bakrapur and many other villages from Meghalaya took part in the rally.

The protest rally took out from the Damra High School Playground to Nokmakundi Playground in Dudhanoi LAC. It is worth mentioning that the image of suffering the villagers from sand mining came to light when several frustrated tribal women with babies in their laps came to the National Highway to protest. Mothers' Union President Soma Marak said that due to the mining in the Dudnoi river, the level of the water is decreasing day by day. "Even in the rainy seasons, we see very less water than we have seen in the river. On the other hand,  sand smugglers using motors to extract the sand from the river and therefore massive erosion started in the area from Dudhnoi to several villages in Meghalaya." added Soma Marak. 

Soma Marak also said, "State government of Assam planned to decrease erosion in the rivers and therefore Assam state minister Pijyush Hazarika also visited many river side places in Dudhnoi area along with the RHAC Chief Tankeswar Rabha and ordered the department to work for stopping erosion. What is the point of spending unnecessary money on these things when sand mining continues in the river day and night?" 

ABSU advisor Dhiraj Hazowary said, "The sand mafia are creating havoc on nature through sand mining by disobeying government regulations for sand mining. On the other hand, departments like forest, transport and police do not see the overloaded sand laden dumpers. Even after carrying sand without challan or less challan while carrying more sand on the dumpers. Police, Transport department only take actions against E-Rickshaws, scooties, bikes etc." 

Hazowary added, "When we request to stop the sand mining to the Goalpara DFO, he replied that we have to show him the majority against the sand mining. We were shocked at that time and today we warned the DFO to take immediate actions against sand mining otherwise people will stop the sand mining."

ABSU advisor Dhiraj Hazowary said, "We also come to know that all forest offices and police stations are collecting money from every dumper monthly from Dudhnoi to till Guwahati. We suspect some ministers or powerful political persons are involved in this matter, that is why more than 200  overloaded sand laden dumpers went to Guwahati without any problems from any departments." 

GSU Goalpara district president Bablu Sangma emphasized, "We are not understanding, even after protesting against the sand mining many times, which now created problems on livelihood in the area. People facing problems for cultivation and other works due to the decreasing water level of the river."

Sangma also said, "We filed memorundums regarding this matter to the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, DC Goalpara, DFO Goalpara many times, but not yet taking actions against it. If the government will not take any actions, we will start resistance movements against mining and transportation and whatever consequences will come out, only the government will be responsible."