Extraction of sand, sand gravel beyond limit from Subansiri river bed alleged
DHEMAJI, June 19 - The Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), Dhemaji district committee has demanded of the State government to deal with the cases pertaining to reported illegal storage of sand and sand-gravel out of the permitted quarries under Dhemaji forest division.
The AJYCP functionaries alleged that a section of unscrupulous contractors in active connivance with the Forest department officials is conducting crude excavation on the Subansiri river bed thereby posing a threat to ecosystem of the area. It is said that the contractors have extracted sand from the quarries beyond the permissible limits and stored a huge quantity sand and sand-gravel at soil conservation sites out of the notified quarry.
The AJYCP Dhemaji district unit staged a protest in front of the Dhemaji DC�s office today, shouted slogans against the destruction of forest wealth on the Subansiri river bed and its adjoining areas. They also submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal through the DC to initiate proper investigation into matter and take action against the smugglers, who are exploiting these minor minerals at Subansiri river basin.
The AJYCP Dhemaji district committee led by Priyanku Pratim Chutiya (president) and Bishnu Sharma (general secretary) has demanded of the State government to initiate a high-level probe on the reported exploitation of forest resources in Dhemaji through the State�s Bureau of Economic Offences and take legal action against the unscrupulous traders along with the corrupt officials of the Forest and Soil conservation departments.
It is pertinent to mention that the State forest department recently conducted an inquiry into the reported smuggling and illegal storage of forest wealth in Dhemaji and caught some forest officials guilty in this regard. Thus, three foresters posted in Dirpai forest beat under Dhemaji range office are presently under suspension for their involvement with illegal trading in forest wealth.
