Debabrata Saikia approaches HC against illegal mining in Dikhow River

Guwahati, January 5, 2019:

Leader of Opposition, Debabrata Saikia approached the Gauhati High Court against illegal mining in various places of the Dikhow riverbed especially near the Ougurijan stream.

A Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court, consisting of Chief Justice A S Bopanna and Justice A K Goswami, disposed of a PIL (No.78/2018) filed by the Debabrata Saikia and allowed him to file a representation to the Mines and Minerals Department of the government of Assam to take necessary steps to immediately stop all illegal mining in various places of the Dikhow riverbed.

Saikia’s counsel submitted that such mining on either side of the river, upstream and downstream, has caused environmental degradation and also posed a threat to the biodiversity. Over the years, unrestricted illegal mining on the river Dikhow has resulted in damage to the ecosystem of the river and the safety of bridges, weakening of the riverbed, destruction of natural habitat of aquatic fauna, affected fish breeding and migration cycles, spelt disaster for the conservation of many bird species, increased saline water in the rivers, etc. Further, the state government has not even released the District Mineral Foundation Trust (DMFT) fund, utilization of which for the benefit of the inhabitants of mining areas is mandatory.

The Court has observed that Mines and Minerals Department will have to collect the materials and consider the representation to be filed by Saikia as quickly as possible and not beyond a period of two months. The Court further directed the Department to apprise Saikia of action taken regarding his complaint.

The High Court has also given Saikia the liberty to approach the court if his grievance is not adequately addressed by the state government within the stipulated two months.