AGARTALA, May 28 (TIWN): It is not possible to build a house without sand but there is also a limit to sand extraction. Sand mafias are extracting sand from rivers illegally, even after having report regarding illegal sand extraction the concerned department playing silent role, allegedly. The local residents of Ward No. 3 adjacent to the market under Golaghati Vill Panchayat under Bishalgarh RD block are in a dilemma due to illegal extraction of sand from Vijay River.

Talking to a local it is known, a sand mafia, Sukanta Ghosh illegally extracting sand from Vijay River under Golaghati Vill Panchayat, the sand is being extracted since the last 2 years with the help of 8-9 machines. It is known, the area is densely populated area and almost 150 families are residing in the area, and among 150 families most of the families depend on farming, but due to illegal extraction of sand the river has started eroding. With heavy resentment a villager said the forest department has information about the illegal sand extraction but the forest officer of the Sepahijala district including the sub-divisional officer of the forest department are playing silent role on this.

It is alleged the local people various times reported this illegal sand mining to the forest department but the forest department overlooked this matter.

Question is being raised: why are the forest department staff playing silent role on this serious issue? What is the reason behind their playing silent role against this illegal sand mining?

The local people of the area urged the state government to take stern action against the illicit crime so that the prolonged erosion on the river banks could be stopped.