Thoubal River: Workers protest restriction on sand mining
Source: The Sangai Express
Thoubal, February 18 2018:
Thoubal River Workers' Association today condemned and protest the restrictions on sand mining from the river saying that sand mining is their livelihood.
River sand mining is the only means of livelihood for many along the river said the association.
Many have been mining the river sand since the last 80 years and they don not have other means to earn livelihood, it said.
A worker from Leirongthel Pitra who earn daily wages from sand mining said that the restriction will starve his family.
The Government officials and concerned Ministers should visit his village and see how people lives there, he said.
He appealed Government to provide an alternative means to earn livelihood.
It may be mentioned that the Thoubal River Conservation Committee and majority of the people have been demanding regulations to check sand mining and clean the river water since February 13 .