Shillong, Oct 26: The East Khasi Hills district administration has banned unauthorised sand mining and washing along the Umtyngar to Pomkaniew stretch of the Umiew River, citing environmental damage caused by the discharge of untreated, silt-laden wastewater into the river.
District Magistrate Abhilash Baranwal, IAS, issued a prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, directing an immediate halt to unauthorised and unscientific sand extraction and washing activities along the stretch.
The order follows official reports of violations by sand extraction and washing units operating without adequate environmental safeguards. The units were found to be discharging untreated wash-water directly into the river, causing increased turbidity and heavy siltation.
The administration warned that the activities posed a threat to aquatic life, water quality, public health and downstream irrigation infrastructure.
According to the order, several operations were found to be functioning without essential infrastructure, including settling tanks, filtration systems and designated sites for disposing of waste material.
The operations were also found to lack valid mining licences or quarry permits from the Forest Department, No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), and prior Environmental Clearance (EC) or Consent to Establish and Operate from the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB).
The administration said the activities violated the Meghalaya Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016, and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006.
Under the order, all unauthorised sand mining and washing operations that discharge silt-laden wastewater into the river must stop immediately, pending the necessary statutory clearances.
Operators have also been prohibited from dumping sand, mud, silt or debris along riverbanks and natural drainage channels.
The order further states that mining and washing activities cannot resume until operators install functional settling tanks and closed-loop filtration systems, establish designated spoil-disposal sites away from the river and obtain the required statutory permits.
The prohibitory order came into force immediately and will remain effective until further orders.The district administration warned that individuals and operators violating the directions would face criminal prosecution under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
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