Assam: Illegal sand mining endangers River Dolphin lives in Chamaria

The waters of the Morakolohi River in the Chamaria region have turned into a battleground for the survival of the Gangetic river dolphin, as rampant illegal sand mining wreaks havoc on the delicate ecosystem. Despite the alarming consequences, the state forest department remains alarmingly passive leaving the endangered species vulnerable to extinction.

Reports of clandestine sand mining operations surfaced when concerned citizens, choosing anonymity for fear of reprisal, shed light on the devastating impact on the river's biodiversity. The Morakolohi River within the Chamaria Revenue circle in Puthimari village, has become a hotspot for illicit sand extraction, resulting in a loss of river dolphin lives.

Residents of Chamaria express dismay and outrage at the inaction of state authorities in curbing this environmental crisis. The perpetrators of illegal sand mining, brazenly flouting regulations, have allegedly corrupted officials to turn a blind eye to their illicit activities, leaving local communities disillusioned and helpless.

Utilizing pump motors under the cloak of darkness, smugglers orchestrate their operations with impunity, extracting sand relentlessly. Dumpers ply the roads under the veil of night, while tractors haul away precious riverbed resources during the day, leaving behind a trail of ecological destruction.

The plight of the Gangetic river dolphin, revered as both the national and state aquatic animal of Assam, underscores the urgency of addressing this ecological catastrophe. Classified as a Schedule-1 species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and labeled 'endangered' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the survival of these majestic creatures hangs in the balance.