Haflong, Sept 26: The All Dimasa Students’ Union (ADSU), Dima Hasao district committee, has lodged a formal complaint with the Chief Conservator of Forests, Haflong, seeking immediate halt to the illegal and unregulated riverbed mining across the district. In a representation submitted to the Forest department, the student body alleged that excessive extraction of sand, gravel, stone and boulders, particularly along the Diyung, Mahur, Langting and Jatinga rivers, was causing serious ecological damage.

The ADSU alleged that the use of heavy mechanised excavators inside active river channels was destabilising riverbanks, accelerating soil erosion and posing risks to infrastructure, including the NH-27 and railway lines. It also expressed concern over the destruction of aquatic habitats and breeding grounds of native fish species.

The organisation further claimed that indiscriminate deep mining was affecting groundwater levels and disrupting gravity-fed drinking water sources in the rural areas, thereby affecting communities dependent on rivers for fishing, agriculture and household water requirements. Referring to existing mining and environmental regulations, the ADSU said unregulated commercial extraction must be checked, particularly in an ecologically fragile hill district.

The student body has demanded an immediate cease-and-desist order against non-compliant mining sites and seizure of unauthorised heavy machinery operating in river channels.