Illegal extraction of ordinary clay from the Pahumara River in the Doloigaon area of Bajali district has raised alarm among residents, who say the mining is being carried out openly without mandatory environmental clearances and is causing damage to the river ecosystem and nearby communities. Locals allege several businessmen are removing clay from the riverbed without the required permits for minor mineral extraction, a practice they say has altered the river’s course, increased bank erosion and poses long-term environmental risks.
Residents report that dumpers run day and night, transporting clay along a busy road and kicking up heavy dust that disrupts daily life. “Dumpers are collecting clay from the Pahumara riverbed day and night without any pause. The dust pollution has become unbearable. This is a busy road used daily by students, office-goers and local residents. We want to know — do these miners have any permission or environmental clearance? If yes, why is there no monitoring? And if not, why is no action being taken?” said local resident Mintu Kumar Patgiri, describing worsening conditions for commuters and public health concerns.
Another resident, Sarbeswar Talukdar, said the problem intensifies in the dry season when dust levels rise significantly. “During this dry season, the situation becomes worse. The continuous movement of dumpers has turned the road into a cloud of dust. It is affecting public health and making daily travel extremely difficult. The authorities must immediately look into this matter before the situation worsens further,” he said.
The issue has drawn attention from people involved in the District Survey Report (DSR) and Environmental Clearance (EC) process, who claim illegal operators are functioning without approvals and causing financial losses to those who obtained lawful permissions. Operators holding legitimate DSR approvals and environmental clearances say they have invested heavily to meet regulatory requirements, including royalty payments and environmental safeguards, and that the alleged inaction against unauthorised miners creates an uneven playing field.
Despite repeated complaints, residents say enforcement by the Forest Department has been limited. Concerned citizens are urging regular inspections, seizure of illegally extracted material and stricter enforcement of environmental norms to prevent further degradation of the Pahumara River. The controversy has sparked public debate in Bajali, with calls for greater transparency and accountability in the regulation of minor mineral extraction in the district.
Original Source: https://nenow.in/environment/assam-illegal-clay-extraction-along-pahumara-river-raises-environmental-concerns-in-bajali.html
Category: Assam,Environment,Northeast News,Top News
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Publish Date: 2026-02-27 07:50:00
