Only manual sand quarrying allowed: CM
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, February 28 2023: Informing that the state cabinet had approved to impose blanket ban on use of machineries for sand quarrying in any of the rivers of the state, chief minister N Biren on Tuesday said that the same will be published in the state gazette and legal actions will be taken up against the violators.

He shared the information in the ongoing state assembly session on Tuesday in response to a calling attention motion moved by opposition member Okram Surjakumar on the river pollution caused by sand quarrying with special reference to Thoubal River, which has become a public issue.

CM Biren said that the government has been taking up actions against illegal sand quarrying and there are several cases of seizure of vehicles involved.

Though most of them are engaged in the activity in search of livelihood, such practices are causing serious problems to others.

Apart from sand quarrying, there is the nasty trend of flushing effluents from toilet or dumping garbage into the river without even considering the fact that some people, somewhere down the stream, are using the water of the same river for consumption and other daily uses.

Around 99 per cent of people living near the river banks lack civic sense, he said.

The government is taking up a mass drive against such activities and people are volunteering in the drive.

Several toilets have been removed and cases registered.

There is a court order prohibiting sand quarrying from rivers, he said while informing about the cabinet decision to ban sand quarrying from rivers using machineries.

However, manual quarrying will be allowed after framing certain rules so that these activities do not affect the eco-system of the river.

Identification of legal sand quarrying sites has been completed and environment assessment is under process.

Besides, the government is exploring possibilities of covering sand quarrying activities under MGNREGS, he said.

In an unrelated matter, the CM took the opportunity to inform the House about the cease work strike launched by health services doctors and said that doctors in Churachandpur, Noney, Imphal West and Imphal East as well as some other locations have resumed their duties.

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