Shillong: East Khasi Hills District Magistrate Abhilash Baranwal shut down illegal sand extraction and washing along the Umtyngar to Pomkaniew stretch of the Umiew River on October 26. He issued the ban under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The river is filthy. Silt clogs the water.
Investigations exposed widespread environmental harm. Operators ignored basic rules. They lacked settling tanks, filtration systems, and proper disposal sites. No one had valid mining licenses, Forest Department quarry permits, or No Objection Certificates from the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council. Furthermore, the units operated without clearances from the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board. They defied the Meghalaya Minor Mineral Concession Rules of 2016 and the 2006 EIA Notification.
The administration warned that the activities threaten aquatic life, irrigation, and public health. "Any violation of the order will invite prosecution under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023," the directive stated. Extraction and washing must stop immediately. No debris can hit the riverbanks. Operations stay closed until businesses prove they have closed-loop filtration and proper permits. The order holds until further notice.
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