Guwahati, August 2: An environmental advocacy group has formally requested Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria to initiate a thorough investigation into an alleged illicit stone and soil syndicate operating within the state. The organisation warns that such activities could severely undermine the government's efforts to plug revenue leakages from natural resources and worsen environmental issues, including artificial floods in Guwahati.
The North-East Eco Development Society (NEEDS), based in Guwahati, submitted a detailed memorandum to the Governor, alleging that organised syndicates are exploiting vulnerabilities in the transportation of stones and other minor forest minerals entering Assam from neighbouring Meghalaya. According to the memorandum, these illicit operations are causing significant revenue loss for the state exchequer and actively promoting illegal hill cutting, which in turn contributes to environmental degradation across the region.
The appeal from NEEDS assumes particular significance as it comes amidst intensified efforts by the Assam government to enhance transparency and curb revenue evasion in the forest and mineral sectors. Forest Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah recently announced a series of reform measures, including the digitisation of the challan system and the implementation of GPS-based monitoring for vehicles transporting these resources. These initiatives are designed to strengthen the existing Brown Transit Pass (TP) system and ensure stricter enforcement.
The environmental group contends that the alleged syndicate's activities directly contradict these reform measures, potentially weakening environmental safeguards and exacerbating the recurring problem of artificial floods in the state capital. The Governor's office is expected to review the detailed allegations made by NEEDS.
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