Assam: Palasbari residents flag rampant sand mining along Brahmaputra

Guwahati: The Jarabari–Panikhaiti belt of Palasbari in Assam has witnessed an escalation in illegal sand mining along the Brahmaputra, triggering alarm among local residents over environmental damage and growing safety risks.

Residents living near the No. 5 spur said operators have been openly extracting white sand from the river channel in violation of prescribed norms. Using heavy machinery, they have dug deep, water-filled craters along the riverbed, altering the river’s natural structure and flow. Locals warned that such large-scale, unscientific excavation threatens aquatic life, disturbs wildlife habitats, and increases the risk of erosion and accidents.

According to villagers, the mining continues daily with the use of JCB machines and dumpers. Traders allegedly transport the extracted sand through the Jiakur–Kukumara route, bypassing restrictions on sand movement and riverbed mining.

The developments have raised serious concerns about regulatory oversight. Villagers alleged that the Kukumara Forest Beat office under the Nagarbera Reserve Forest, along with officials of a nearby forest depot, have failed to intervene despite the mining taking place in plain view. This silence, residents said, has deepened public suspicion over possible administrative lapses.

Farmers and households in the area expressed fears that continued extraction could weaken the embankment and damage the concrete road running alongside the river. Any breach, they cautioned, could trigger flooding, destroy agricultural land, and disrupt daily life, particularly during the monsoon months.

Seeking urgent intervention, affected villagers have urged the district administration, forest department, and other enforcement agencies to immediately stop the illegal mining and launch a comprehensive investigation. They also demanded stringent action against those involved, warning that continued inaction could push the region towards a major environmental and infrastructural crisis.