Sit-in staged against quarrying in river
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, June 06 2024:
THOUBAL: People of 14 villages staged sit-in protest at the NESA ground, Nongpok Sekmai on Thursday in denunciation of extraction of stones from river source.
Speaking on the sidelines of the sit-in organised by North Eastern Environmental Protection Committee, a woman protestor informed that the agitation is aimed at appealing against environmental damages in the hills and extraction of stones from river source, both detrimental to efforts to maintain ecological balance and protect environment.
She urged not to intimidate and threaten the people who are launching movement for the protection and preservation of environment.
Reiterating her appeal to stop threatening and intimidating those who are against extraction of stones and destroying hills, she made it clear that their demand is not against quarrying of sand and stones but for the protection of the hills to maintain ecological balance.
Further urging the armed organisations to maintain neutrality on the matter, she asserted that in case mothers threatened or intimidated, then they (mothers) will stop protecting them in the form of holding night vigil for the last many years.
The protestors used placards inscribed with slogans like 'Every organisation should help in protecting environment', 'We condemn assault on innocent people by armed men', 'Consequences should be borne by those who extract stones by destroying hills', 'Organisation assaulting innocent civilian is enemy of the people', etc.