Quartzite transported with invalid challan
Correspondent
HAMREN, Jun 02: The twin hills districts of Karbi Anglong has become synonymous with source of illegal mining activities and rapid exploitation posing massive threat to the forest and the biodiversity of the region. The mining of quartzite from West Karbi Anglong district has picked pace ever since it was open for mining by the state government but illegal mining is also going on simultaneously.
Contrary to the statement of 20 Baithalangso LAC MLA Rupsing Teron, mining of the white stones have also been permitted in Arting Block-1, mining have been carried out in massive areas and beyond the area which have never been opened for mining. In reality, illegal mining of the quartzite have been carried out in Langkar-om, Rumphum, Umpoo and Rupai areas inside Socheng Constituency under the very nose of the forest department under the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council.
According to a TP challan which the TDE managed to get an image, a major discrepancy was detected in the Transit Pass order issued to one Priyanka Prity Baruah by the Directorate of Geology and Mining, Kahilipara, Assam. The date of issue written on the challan was 10/8/2022 with date and time of dispatch on 17/05/23 with validity of 7 days within Assam and 14 days outside Assam clearly written on the challan under the possession of the driver with the registration number AS25CC1213. The illegal transportation of quartzite from non-mining sites comprising of Langkar-om, Rumphum, Umpoo and Rupai areas with the invalid challan, which has already expired on May 24, 2023, has exposed the massive illegal mining activities carried out by the contractors.
According to the memorandum between the Assam Government and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, 60 percent of the revenue from mining will to the state while 40 percent of the revenue will go to the Council coffers. However the latest incident meant KAAC was not only losing its revenues but the entire mining activities could spell irreparable damage to the shrinking forest area in the region.
Following this, locals have demanded the KAAC to explain how massive illegal mining activities have been carried out for such a long time under their very nose. Furthermore, several concerned citizens have charged that the failure to issue official clarification would only send a very wrong message about their authority and competencies in dealing with mafias and failure to protect land under the KAAC formed under the Sixth Schedule to the Constitution of India.