TURA, April 4 � Angered at the growing number of stone quarries despite the administration putting a ban on the business, the Achik Indigenous Justice Initiative Forum (AIJIF) has asked for very strict action to be taken against the erring businessmen involved in the trade.
The NGO has further stated that it would raise the issue with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to seek a permanent ban on quarrying.
�Stone quarries and crushers have destroyed the fragile environment of the plain belt in the Garo Hills, leading to a huge amount of air and water pollution. This needs to be stopped immediately�, said AIJIF director Alex K Sangma.
�Between Garobadha and Hallidayganj there are about 35 stone crushers, most of which operate very close to the road. They do not have clearances, but still operate clandestinely in violation of the MoEF guidelines�, added Sangma.
�According to our study, 90 per cent of them are operating without valid papers and almost all of them are from neighbouring Assam. This sort of benami transactions has to be stopped altogether�, Sangma asserted.
