The West Khasi Hills district magistrate has issued an order under Section 144 CrPC prohibiting sand mining from river beds and banks in and around Nongkhnum river island.
According to the district magistrate some people are engaging in illegal extraction of sand from the river in violation of the NGT order and Rule 4(1) of the Meghalaya Minerals Concession Rules, 2016. He said this was done without any approval or clearance from the Ministry of Environment & Forests or the State/District Environmental Impact Assessment Authority thereby causing revenue loss to the State.
Removal of sand from the river beds is causing serious threat to the flow of the river and the environment of the river island and hence any person, organisation, clan or group of people, etc. are prohibited from engaging in sand mining activities.
Violators will be prosecuted under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and under specific provisions of the Relevant Rules/Acts/Orders such as the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the NGT order.
