DIMAPUR, AUG 5 (NPN): Deputy Commissioner (DC) Dimapur, Dr. Tinojongshi Chang, has imposed a complete ban on the use of heavy machinery for the extraction of sand, gravel, boulders and other riverbed materials across the district without the requisite permissions and licences.
The order, issued to protect the environment and public infrastructure, cited indiscriminate mechanised riverbed mining as a major cause of environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, ecosystem disruption, water contamination and damage to agricultural activities. It also noted that such activities have weakened roads, bridges, culverts, railway infrastructure and irrigation channels.
According to the order, unregulated riverbed mining has increased the risks of riverbank erosion, landslides and other natural disasters, lowered groundwater levels, reduced water availability for drinking and irrigation, and disturbed the natural flow of sediments, threatening aquatic ecosystems, public safety and local livelihoods.
DC said such activities violate provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Rules 49 and 50 of the Nagaland Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2004.
Mining operations undertaken without valid permits or licences will be treated as illegal.
The order stated that extraction of riverbed materials using heavy machinery would only be permitted after obtaining approvals under the Nagaland (Ownership and Transfer of Land and its Resources) Act, 1990, the Nagaland Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2004, and other applicable statutory requirements.
DC warned that any individual, group, firm or organisation violating the order would face action under the relevant laws.
To ensure compliance, a monitoring team comprising officials from the district administration, police, geology and mining, forest department, civil society organisations, and village, municipal and town councils has been constituted to oversee enforcement.
