AGARTALA, September 11 (TIWN):“ Save Howrah River” remains merely a slogan without any action plan or new thoughts.

The slogan was raised on the occasion of 65th Van Mahatsov celebrated at Jirania. Lakhs of taxpayers’ money  was spent for the celebration. Chief minister Manik Sarkar was present in the programme. From there Sarkar raised the slogan for saving  the river, which is the main source of water for the state ‘s capital. In the programme, he announced that the river will be protected from dying. Necessary steps will be taken by the administration in this regard.

After the announcement, it was understood at least now the administration will take measures for saving the river. However, two month no steps  was taken to make the announcement of Sarkar, a reality. Saving the main river of the state has become only a slogan and  a medium to spent taxpayers money.   Even Sarkar, does not feel it necessary to review the progress  of his announcement.

Illegal sand mining is adding to the plight of the  Howrah .It has not only changed the course of the river but also made its riverbed unstable, thus disturbing the biodiversity of the region. Deep  and wide  pits found  on the  riverbed. These pits, formed because of illegal and unabated extraction of sand, have affected the natural flow of water into the river.

While farmers from nearby villages claimed that people involved in illegal sand mining intentionally prevent the natural flow of water to take out more sand from a spot, experts claimed that it actually leads to change in the course of river.The forest department  is also inactive in stopping the illegal sand mining.  
The Ministry of Environment and Forests in 2010 had issued guidelines on sand mining, which were upheld by the Supreme Court in 2012. According to the directives, sand mining cannot be allowed beyond three meters of depth alongside the riverbed. Moreover, digging should be stopped the moment water starts surfacing in the pit.