Assam: Dibrugarh Forest department accused of favouritism in sand quarry lease, revenue loss in crores feared

Allegations of a decision that could have cost the Assam government crores of rupees have put the Dibrugarh District Forest Department under scrutiny, with claims of favouritism and procedural irregularities triggering calls for an official inquiry.

 

The controversy centres on Sand Mahal No. 12 along the Burhidihing River in the Khowang area, a site assessed by the government to be worth around Rs 97 lakh. According to reports, several local Assamese youth entrepreneurs had submitted bids running into several crores for the tender, reflecting the high commercial value of the sand mining lease. Many of the applicants also deposited advance payments amounting to several lakhs of rupees as part of the bidding process.

 

Despite this, officials of the Forest Department are alleged to have cancelled the tender without explanation and later allotted the same sand mahal to an individual, identified as Nomal Saikia, for just Rs 7 lakh. The decision has raised serious concerns over a potential loss of public revenue and the transparency of the tendering process.

 

Local youths involved in the bidding process claim they have been pushed into financial distress after investing substantial personal savings and borrowing funds to participate in what they believed was a fair and competitive tender. They allege that the abrupt cancellation and subsequent allotment have left them with no compensation or clarity.

 

The Sand Mahal Association has also voiced strong resentment over the matter, alleging undue preference given to a single individual. The association has warned that continued neglect of their concerns could force members to surrender their sand mahals back to the government as a form of protest.

 

So far, the Dibrugarh District Forest Department has not issued any official statement addressing the allegations. Its silence has intensified public concern and fuelled demands for an administrative probe to determine whether established rules were bypassed and whether public funds were compromised.