Sand mining scam unearthed in Assam's Dhubri, government faces crore-scale revenue loss

Unauthorised sand excavation from the Brahmaputra River in Assam's Dhubri has led to a large-scale sand mining scam, resulting in revenue losses of crores of rupees for the state government.
 

According to a complaint, contractor Foyzal Hoque, who was sanctioned permission to excavate 2,000 cubic meters of sand for a drainage construction project, has far exceeded the authorised limit. It is alleged that Hoque, in collusion with sand mafia Firdoz Ahmed, also known as Farooq, has been operating heavy machinery such as JCBs and tractors to illegally extract and transport hundreds of dumpers of sand from the riverbed.
 

The sand is being sold in various parts of the town, raising alarms over unchecked exploitation of natural resources. Reports suggest that the illicit activities are being carried out without proper challans, further facilitating the illegal sale of sand. Residents have raised serious concerns about the failure of oversight mechanisms, with allegations pointing towards the involvement of government officials in the scam.
 

Adding to the controversy, Farooq reportedly took a contract worth Rs 20 lakhs to fill a vacant plot in Ward No. 3, which has also drawn public scrutiny. Locals have demanded immediate action from authorities to investigate the alleged collusion between the contractor, sand mafia, and government officials.
 

The ongoing sand mining activities are not only causing significant financial losses to the government but also posing severe environmental threats. The over-extraction of sand from the Brahmaputra River has raised fears of ecological imbalance, endangering the river's ecosystem and potentially exacerbating flood risks.
 

Environmental activists have urged the administration to implement stricter regulations and adopt sustainable practices to safeguard natural resources. Meanwhile, public pressure continues to mount on local authorities to address the allegations and take decisive action against those responsible for the scam.
 

Despite the growing outrage, no official response has been issued by the concerned authorities so far. However, residents and activists are demanding swift intervention to ensure accountability, recover lost revenue, and prevent further exploitation of the region’s natural resources.