SHILLONG: The East Khasi Hills district administration has under Section 144 CrPC restricted illegal mining and quarrying on the hill slopes and removal of sand from river beds by any person, company or authority without obtaining mining licence/quarry permit and other clearance certificates from the competent authority(s).
In her order issued on January 3, East Khasi Hills district magistrate RM Kurbah said it had been brought to her notice that illegal quarrying and mining, particularly on hill slopes and removal of sand from river beds are taking place in various parts of the district, and specifically in Sohiong, Mawblei and Umphyrnai which has severely affected the water sources in the surrounding and adjoining areas.
The order was received from the principal bench of the National Green Tribunal.
“Such indiscriminate quarrying and mining activities has led to the constant outflow of stone, sand and other minerals into the rivers and down from the hill slopes which ultimately lead to destruction of vegetation on the slopes, damages the water sources and destroys aquatic life. Many rivers have become polluted due to stone and sand mining and as such, the water is no longer potable and is unfit for drinking purposes,” the district magistrate said.
