Shillong, Apr 24: The East Khasi Hills district magistrate has issued an order aimed at curbing illegal sand extraction from river beds and unauthorised mining on hill slopes.
The order comes as a response to the alarming environmental degradation witnessed along the Wahniangleng River near Mylliem.
No individual, company, or authority may engage in these activities without valid mining licences, quarry permits, and clearances under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s EIA Notification 2006, the order said.
The directive is also in compliance with directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which has prohibited all mining activities without valid licenses and clearances established by the ministry
The district magistrate said unregulated sand mining has led to severe ecological disruptions, including the destruction of slope vegetation and local aquatic ecosystems. The runoff of stone and sand into rivers has not only harmed biodiversity but has also adversely affected water quality.
