Report filed by the District Commissioner Udalguri, Assam regarding illegal mining, 15/02/2025
The District Commissioner, Udalguri, Assam filed its reply February 15, 2025 in the matter of Atanu Borthakur Vs Union of India & Others. The matter is related to illegal mining activities in Udalguri district.
The petitioner had alleged large scale illegal mining activities taking place in Udalguri district in gross violation of environmental rules and guidelines. The petitioner had also said that there is no approved District Survey Report till date and mining activities were being carried on in large scale in the absence of any approved DSR.
The NGT, eastern zone bench vide order dated January 17, 2025 had directed the constitution of a fact finding committee. The committee was asked to visit the sites in question and submit a report with regard to the allegations.
Pursuant to the order, the first meeting of the committee was held on January 29, 2025 under the Chairmanship of the District Commissioner, Udalguri. Field visits were made and report submitted. A detailed status report was also sought from the Divisional Forest Officer, Dhansiri forest division, Udalguri. The DSR for Udalguri district is under preparation and has not yet been finally approved, and ECs will be issued only after the final approvals of the DSRs.
The court was informed that after obtaining detailed information, the district administration issued show cause notices and gave directions to stop all the mining activities. The court was assured that presently no unauthorized mining is being carried out in the Udalguri district.
"Udalguri district has a huge repository of natural resources in the form of sand, gravels due to its terrain and hilly rivers. The district caters to the need of materials irrespective of government projects being executed in the district and other neighboring districts and also individual demands. There is a huge opportunity of scientific mining in the district for minor minerals for development and revenue of the state". In addition to it, some projects pertaining to Water Resource Department are being executed in the flood prone and vulnerable areas to combat the coming flood situation and severity of the existing embankment across the district. The department had to stop its ongoing works due to a ban on collection of materials from the mines, the report said.