Shillong, Feb 1: Residents of Balat, Mawshaliah and nearby villages in Ranikor civil sub-division have protested against Bhagya Traders, a Guwahati-based company, for allegedly extracting stones illegally from the Umngi River bank.
The villagers claim the extraction threatens their homes, as the river has washed away hundreds of houses since 2007 due to similar activities.
The company was working on a protection wall to prevent soil erosion but villagers say the excavation will worsen flooding. “This is a banned area and the company’s actions will put our village at risk again,” said Koilan Khardewsaw, Rangbah Shnong of Balat.
The Dorbar Shnong has banned further quarrying and given the company 10 days to refill the extracted area. Villagers have appealed to local authorities to intervene and prevent disaster.
