AKRASU Submits Memorandum to Forest Minister Demanding Immediate Halt to Unrestrained Hill Mining in Jagiroad,Assam
By Dalim Phukan
Assam/ Guwahati, Aug 20 : The Morigaon district committee of the Central Assam Koch Rajbongshi Students’ Union (AKRASU) today submitted a memorandum to the Assam Forest Minister through the Morigaon District Commissioner, demanding an immediate halt to the illegal and unrestrained mining activities being carried out in the hills of Jagiroad in Morigaon district.
The memorandum, submitted under the leadership of Central Committee President Paresh Chandra Deka, Morigaon district committee President Pranab Choudhury, General Secretary Bidyut Deka, Vice-President Mrinal Deka and Organising Secretary Nitul Deka, contained several important demands.
The memorandum stated that the Ellora Science Forum had urged the Assam government as early as 2020 to immediately stop the unrestrained hill-mining activities in Jagiroad. The organisation had also warned that the continued mining of the hills could lead to a dangerous situation in Jagiroad in the coming days.
However, despite the warning, neither the state government nor the district administration has taken any effective steps in this regard so far. As a result, the devastating flash flood that struck on August 4 caused extensive damage in Jagiroad and also claimed the life of a person.
The organisation demanded that the government take immediate and appropriate measures to stop the unrestrained hill and river mining activities being carried out in Central Assam so that the region does not face devastating floods like those witnessed in Upper Assam.
The organisation also demanded that the flood problem in Assam be declared a national problem and that the embankments along the Kolong-Kapili and Brahmaputra rivers be constructed scientifically.
In addition, AKRASU opposed attempts to reduce the Eco-Sensitive Zone of Kaziranga National Park and demanded that Kaziranga be allowed to retain its green character.
The organisation submitted these and several other important demands to the Assam Forest Minister through the memorandum.
