MAWKYRWAT, Feb 2: Balat villagers ultimatum construction firm was issued after residents of Balat served a 10-day notice to Bhagya Traders, a Guwahati-based construction company, for allegedly violating a government ban and extracting stones from the Umngi riverbank.
The company, contracted to build a protective flood wall along the Umngi, is accused of accelerating soil erosion, putting Balat and surrounding villages at risk ahead of the monsoon season.
Koilan Khardewsaw, Rangbah Shnong of Balat, stated that since 2007, around 170 houses, churches, schools, and Anganwadi centres in Balat alone have been washed away due to soil erosion linked to illegal stone extraction. Authorities had previously issued an order prohibiting quarrying from the east of the Umngi to prevent further destruction.
Khardewsaw added that the recent excavation by Bhagya Traders allegedly violates this order, raising serious concerns for village safety. Following an inspection, the Dorbar Shnong barred the company from continuing quarrying activities.
Villagers have requested intervention from the local MLA and state authorities to prevent the Umngi river from causing additional damage. Officials have yet to respond to the allegations against the construction firm.
The village council emphasized the need to monitor quarrying activities closely, especially with the approaching rainy season, to safeguard the lives and property of residents along the river. Authorities are expected to provide updates on further actions in the coming days.
