A mass protest rally against ongoing sand gravel mining in the Boko River at Kompaduli village took place on Wednesday. Villagers from Kompaduli and neighboring areas such as Lepgaon, Bamunpara, Kothalpara, Gohalkona, Kacharipara, and Jongakhuli organized the rally to address growing environmental concerns.
The protest was spearheaded by the Gohalkona Border Area Women’s Welfare and Youth Development organizations. Leaders from the Garo Students Union (GSU) Assam Zone and the Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS) were also prominent figures in the demonstration. During a public meeting, Johnson A. Sangma of the Border Area Youths Development Organization highlighted the detrimental effects of mining on the local ecosystem. He warned that the mining has dramatically lowered Boko River’s water levels, harming farmland, contaminating drinking water, and impacting local wildlife.
Sangma described the mining as “cancer” for the area, threatening the environment and community livelihoods. He alleged the operations were violating regulations and had resulted in two fatalities. Additionally, he raised concerns about infrastructural damage, noting that overloaded trucks were rapidly degrading the newly constructed road from Boko to Kompaduli.
GSU Assam State Zone President Foldin R. Marak urged Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to halt the mining immediately. He announced plans to submit a memorandum to the state government to cease operations.
In contrast, Range Officer Bhagabh Hazarika of Singra Forest argued that external influences were instigating villagers against a government-approved project managed by the Assam Mineral Development Corporation Ltd. Hazarika noted that despite multiple attempts to engage villagers in dialogue, no formal complaints had been submitted.
SMSS leader Rahul Choudhury, during the meeting vowed to continue protests until the mining operations were shut down. He threatened to escalate the demonstrations to higher government offices if no action was taken.
The future of sand gravel mining in Boko remains in flux amid escalating tensions between environmental and economic priorities.
Original Story https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/video/assam-villagers-rally-against-illegal-sand-gravel-mining-in-boko-1086702-2024-09-05?utm_source=rssfeed
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