Protest against extraction of stones from Diyung river

SILCHAR: In protest against extraction of stones from the

Diyung river in Dima Hasao district

, residents of several villages like Boro-Waphu, Kelolo, Pura, Longma, Borohaflong, N Leikul, Longma II staged a sit-in protest below the Dayang Railway bridge from 11am to 4pm on Friday.

Villagers said the ongoing stone extraction from

Diyung river

has disturbed the local ecosystem, resulting in endangering the aquatic lives. They added that it also poses a major threat to their locality, as many people of the Haflong town area and on its outskirts depend on the river for their supply of drinking water. The beauty of the place will also be severely affected if the stone extraction continues, they said.

Later, the agitators submitted a memorandum to

North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council

principal secretary Amitabh Rajkhowa, requesting him to take immediate steps to stop the ongoing stone extraction from the Diyung river.

Sources said, the extraction of stones from the Diyung river is being carried out under necessary permission of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council authorities, which is authorised to do so under the 6th schedule of the Constitution.

However, sources alleged that those from ruling BJP, which is in power in NCHAC, are given a big chunk in the business of supply of stones from the riverbed. An activist in Haflong, who declined to be named, said a tug of war is going on among political groups over wining contracts for supply of stones from the riverbed.

Dima Hasao deputy commissioner Paul Baruah on Saturday said the matter is the subject of the NCHAC and they are responsible for allowing anybody to extract stone from riverbed by paying necessary revenue to the department of forest.

NCHAC principal secretary was not available for comments.