Shillong, Oct 26: The East Khasi Hills District Magistrate has banned all unauthorised sand mining and washing along the Umtyngar-Pomkaniew stretch of the Umiew River with immediate effect.
In an order issued under Section 163 of the BNSS on October 19, District Magistrate Abhilash Baranwal said unregulated sand extraction and washing was discharging silt-laden water directly into the river channel, causing severe turbidity and heavy siltation.
The magistrate noted that operations were being carried out without functional settling tanks, filtration arrangements or designated spoil-disposal sites, and without valid mining licences, quarry permits from the Forest Department, NOCs from KHADC, or Environmental Clearance and Consent from the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board. This is in violation of the Meghalaya Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016 and the EIA Notification, 2006.
Observing that such activities pose an imminent threat to aquatic life, water quality, downstream irrigation channels, public health and public property, the order prohibits all unauthorised sand washing and unscientific extraction along the stretch pending statutory compliance, bars dumping of sand, mud, silt or debris on riverbanks and natural drainage paths, and makes clear that no activity can resume unless proper settling tanks, closed-loop filtration and designated spoil sites away from the river are set up with valid permits.
Violators will be prosecuted under Section 223 of the BNS, 2023, the magistrate said.
