Home / Environment / Assam Rivers Choked by Illegal Mining, Say Activists
Assam Rivers Choked by Illegal Mining, Say Activists
26 Sep
Summary
- Illegal riverbed mining devastates Dima Hasao's rivers, causing erosion.
- Extraction threatens vital transport routes like NH 27 and railway lines.
- Drinking water sources and aquatic biodiversity are severely impacted.
The All Dimasa Students' Union (ADSU) has raised alarms regarding illegal and excessive riverbed mining activities across the Diyung, Mahur, Langting, and Jatinga rivers in Assam's Dima Hasao district. The union highlighted that the rampant use of heavy machinery for commercial extraction of sand, gravel, and boulders is leading to severe bank erosion and structural hazards.
These unsustainable practices are destabilizing riverbanks and accelerating soil erosion, endangering critical infrastructure such as National Highway 27 and railway lines. ADSU also warned of extensive destruction to aquatic ecosystems, decimating local biodiversity and fish species due to siltation and habitat disruption.
Moreover, the extensive mining is breaching the natural water table, drastically lowering groundwater levels and drying up essential drinking water streams for rural settlements. The ADSU has called for an immediate cessation of all illegal mining operations and the impounding of unauthorized heavy machinery.
The union further demanded a joint ground inspection and the formation of a multi-stakeholder task force to address the crisis. They are also seeking strict penal action against illegal operators and quarry owners and the scientific demarcation of no-mining ecological zones to protect sensitive areas.
