NORTH LAKHIMPUR, Sept 21 � There have been reports of rampant sand and pebble mining in Harmutty Range Forest under Lakhimpur Forest Division even after the recent visit by Chief Conservator of Forest to the district. The sand-pebble mahal of the upper Dikrong river in Harmutty was leased by the Forest department for seven years on condition of mining of maximum 27,500 CM sand and pebbles. Accordingly, mining of 327 CM per month and 11 CM daily has to be made. For this, separate challans are to be issued against every truck and tractor going to bring the mined materials.
However, no such challans have been issued by the Harmutty Range Forest office, thus allowing the miners to extract materials much more than the daily limits set by the lease conditions. As a result, the State Government is losing a huge amount of revenue. Similarly, the Gelabil mahal of Harmutty Forest Range was closed by the State Government long back due to MoEF recommendations, but illegal mining of sand and pebbles is still going on unabated there. Illegal mining is also on in the nearby Bogolee quarry, which also has injunction on mining.
