Shillong, Jan 19: The organisation known as Garo Hills Youth Solidarity (GHYS) has expressed concern about two matters – environmental degradation caused by stone quarrying and illegal migration.
The GHYS wrote to the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) to highlight alleged illegal stone quarrying in Koksi Songma by Premons Promoters Pvt Ltd in the area between North and East Garo Hills.
According to GHYS, the company is operating without a valid mining lease or statutory clearances from the Mining and Geology Department or other competent authorities. “The mining activities are being carried out very close to the water source and the Chidrang River, which is the lifeline of more than ten villages,” it added.
Since the start of quarrying, the river has turned muddy, polluted and unhealthy, the GHYS said, making it unsafe for drinking and daily use. This has created serious health risks, especially for children, elderly people and vulnerable residents. The extraction has also led to damage to a public road in the area, the group claimed.
Meanwhile, in a separate letter to the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills, the GHYS said that there is growing concern over a supposed increase in the number of non-tribals living in the district.
“Allegations persist that some residents are unable to establish verifiable lineage or legal residency records of the legacy of their parents and grandparents, raising serious questions about the legality of their settlement,” GHYS said. “Of particular concern is the perceived rise in criminal activities and unlawful practices, which many locals associate with unauthorized settlements.”
It called for a “lawful and transparent verification drive” to examine the settlers’ antecedents and deport illegal migrants.
