Guwahati, Oct 24: The Assam government has prepared District Survey Reports covering 35 districts to identify areas where sand and stone mining can be carried out legally, Forest and Environment Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah said on Saturday.
The reports, prepared by experts, identify suitable locations for extraction, taking into account the demand for construction materials amid the state’s ongoing development activities. The government aims to use the findings to facilitate regulated mining and curb illegal extraction.
“With development taking place across Assam, sand and stone are essential construction materials. The District Survey Reports identify areas where mining can be permitted legally. Our objective is to facilitate regulated extraction while discouraging illegal mining,” Mallabaruah said.
The Minister also said the government plans to float tenders for around 100-150 sand and stone mining sites, with several tenders expected to be issued within the next week. The allotment process is targeted for completion by November.
“We have identified several sand and stone mining sites for legal tendering. Around 100-150 sites will be put up for tender, and we are aiming to complete the process by November. This will enable people to obtain these materials from legal quarries rather than engaging in illegal mining,” he said.
Bharalu restoration faces encroachment, narrowing
Turning to the restoration of the Bharalu River, Baruah said the waterway’s natural flow had been severely affected by the closure of channels and the discharge of wastewater from residential areas.
“The Bharalu is no longer functioning like a flowing river. Many of its channels have been closed, and it has increasingly become a drain carrying wastewater from households,” he said.
Mallabaruah pointed out that the river had narrowed to just two or three metres in some stretches, warning that restoration would require widening it to at least eight metres.
“Unless we can restore it to a minimum width of eight metres, the purpose of reviving the river will not be achieved,” he said.
Leased land and unauthorised constructions along the riverbanks pose additional challenges to the restoration exercise.
The government may consider declaring certain stretches as eco-sensitive zones to prevent further construction and explore measures to clear space needed to widen the river.
Women join gibbon conservation efforts
Baruah also highlighted community-led initiatives to protect the endangered western hoolock gibbon at Barekuri in Tinsukia district, where local groups are combining conservation awareness with ecotourism.
Located around 16 km from Tinsukia town, Barekuri is home to an estimated 20-21 western hoolock gibbons belonging to five family groups.
The primates inhabit bamboo groves and fruit trees in residential backyards, reflecting an unusual coexistence between local residents and wildlife.
Baruah identified habitat fragmentation, electrocution and food scarcity as major threats to the species.
Conservation measures include planting fruit-bearing trees, insulating power lines and planning a green corridor linking Barekuri with Bherjan-Borajan-Padumoni Wildlife Sanctuary.
In a post on a microblogging platform, the minister said Barekuri demonstrated how community participation, women’s involvement and nature-based tourism could support wildlife conservation.
He stressed that protecting Assam’s wildlife required collective responsibility, with local communities playing a central role in safeguarding the state’s natural heritage for future generations.