Assam, India – A recent letter to the Supreme Court’s Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has exposed widespread illegal sand mining and stone quarrying in Assam’s Deithor and Rangsali rivers. This activity, using heavy machinery, directly violates a 2019 Supreme Court order aimed at protecting the delicate ecosystem surrounding Kaziranga National Park.
Key Points:
- Illegal mining reported in rivers vital to Kaziranga National Park and nearby elephant reserve
- 2019 Supreme Court order prohibited mining in the area to protect wildlife corridors
- Environmental impact includes habitat destruction, river erosion, and biodiversity loss
- Nearly 200 wild animals, including 10 rhinos, killed in recent floods, possibly exacerbated by mining
Environmentalist Mukrang Engleng highlighted the severe consequences:
- Disruption of aquatic ecosystems
- Increased flooding risk
- Threat to local livelihoods dependent on rivers
- Degraded water quality affecting both humans and wildlife
The letter calls for urgent action to enforce the Supreme Court’s ban and protect this critical habitat. With Kaziranga home to over 2,600 endangered one-horned rhinos, the stakes are high for both wildlife and local communities.
Discuss: How can authorities better enforce environmental protections in ecologically sensitive areas? What role should local communities play in conservation efforts?
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