In Assam's Karbi Anglong, illegal sand and gravel mining has surged due to rapid urbanisation and high demand from Dimapur and Manipur. While the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) allows extraction through tenders, illegal mining has flourished, creating a black market. This has led to significant revenue losses for the KAAC, as trucks carrying illegally mined sand (worth Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per load) operate without paying the required forest royalties.
In February 2024, various factions of the Karbi Students Association (KSA) and the Autonomous State Demand Committee accused the KAAC's Forest Department of allowing illegal sand mining in Karbi Anglong's water systems and rivers. The Jemson Timung faction of KSA alleged unlawful sand excavation in the Laichan Nihanglangso river and claimed that the Divisional Forest Officer has ignored their complaints regarding this violation of the Rivers and Canals Act, 1863. Additionally, the Forest Range Officer, Nickson Ronghang, reportedly sought to negotiate with the KSA and has been accused of receiving kickbacks of Rs 1,500 per truck carrying sand without proper documentation. The KSA demanded strict action against forest authorities for damaging the river.
According to a complaint to the Central Empowered Committee, widespread sand mining and stone quarrying in Assam's Deithor and Rangsali rivers violate Supreme Court orders. The Supreme Court while hearing the TN Godavarman Vs Union of India and others on 12 April 2019, in a related matter on sand mining in Karbi Anglong said: “We order that all kind of mining and related activities along the aforesaid Kaziranga National Park area and in the entire catchment area of rivers/streams and rivulets originating in Karbi Anglong Hill ranges and flowing into Kaziranga National Park, including the tiger reserve are restrained. No new construction shall be permitted on private lands which form part of the nine identified animal corridors.”
But in a letter dated 3 July 2024 to CEC, environmentalist Mukrang Engleng said: “The impact of sand mining through machinery in the Deithor and Rangsali rivers has led to habitat destruction, erosion of river banks, alteration of river flow patterns, and disruption of aquatic ecosystems. It has also resulted in the loss of biodiversity, the fish populations have also declined drastically, and the degradation of water quality has also increased drastically posing health risks to both human and animal lives. Furthermore, sand mining has exacerbated flooding, as it alters the natural sediment balance of the river. Socially and economically, it has affected communities that rely on rivers for livelihoods, such as fishing and agriculture”.
These activities also threaten the ecosystem, including Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve and the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Elephant Reserve. Nearly 200 wild animals, including 10 rhinos, had been killed in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) in Assam due to annual floods since May 2024. KNPTR, covering 1,300 square kilometres, is home to over 2,600 one-horned rhinos, making it their largest habitat.
The Central Empowered Committee (CEC) was established by the Supreme Court of India on 9 May 2002, in the case of TN Godavarman Thirumalpad Vs Union of India. Its role is to monitor the implementation of the Court's orders and address cases of non-compliance.
“These rivers and rivulets are used by indigenous people. They are sacred to us and we want access to our clean rivers. That is why I have decided to highlight the problem. Everyone in this region is very scared to speak up against mining,” said Mukrang Engleng, an engineer by profession and environmentalist.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Opposition against environmental degradation
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
To ban illegal sand and gravel mining
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land, Water bodies, Other Natural Resource extraction/dependence
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
No
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Violation of environmental laws
Violation of standard international laws
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Pending
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Yes
Name of the adjudicatory body
National Green Tribunal
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Supreme Court of India
Case Number
Original Application No. 58/2020 (EZ)
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Assam Forest Department, District Forest Department (Karbi Anglong), Divisional Forest Office, East Division, MoEFCC, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Assam)
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Diphu District Committee of the Karbi Students Association, Autonomous State Demand Committee, Karbi Students Association
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
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