Illegal Mining Linked to Severe Assam Flooding Crisis
Recent devastating floods in upper Assam, specifically affecting Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, and Golaghat, are being linked to illegal mining and the exploitation of natural resources. There are growing concerns regarding administrative inaction and the resulting environmental damage caused by these unauthorized activities.
Concerns Over Illegal Mining Activities
Reports indicate that Debabrata Saikia, the former Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly, wrote a letter to the state Chief Secretary last year regarding this issue. The letter, numbered ALA/LOP/17/4581, specifically highlighted illegal mining and violations occurring along the Opianji Tea Estate, Bihbor-Opianji belt, and the banks of the Dibru River in the Nazira subdivision of Sivasagar district. Despite numerous complaints and local protests, these activities causing environmental harm have reportedly continued.
Legal Intervention and Court Cases
The matter regarding the Opianji River area has previously reached the judiciary. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL No. 78/2018) was filed in the Guwahati High Court, which resulted in directives for officials to take appropriate action. Furthermore, a contempt petition, case number 66/2021, was filed due to the non-compliance with these court orders. It is noted that these mining activities have weakened riverbanks and threatened local infrastructure as well as the natural habitats of aquatic life.
Administrative Challenges at the Border
Reports from local residents suggest that illegal mining of stones and other minerals is also occurring in the Bihbor-Opianji Tea Estate area, located near the Assam-Nagaland border. Efforts to curb these illegal operators face significant hurdles, including difficulties in establishing administrative security and border outposts. Given the current situation, there is a call for the central and state governments to ensure strict compliance with environmental regulations to protect the fragile ecosystem of the region.