Shillong, October 26: The District Magistrate of East Khasi Hills, Abhilash Baranwal, IAS, has issued a prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, banning unauthorised sand mining and washing activities along the Umtyngar–Pomkaniew stretch of the Umiew River following reports of serious environmental violations.
The order, issued on October 19, 2026, comes after authorities received information about unregulated sand extraction and washing operations that were allegedly discharging silt-laden wastewater directly into the river, causing severe turbidity and heavy siltation.
According to the order, the activities were being carried out without functional settling tanks, filtration arrangements or designated spoil-disposal sites, posing a serious threat to water quality and the river’s aquatic ecosystem.
The District Magistrate further observed that the operators were conducting activities without valid mining licences, quarry permits from the Forest Department, No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), or the necessary Environmental Clearance (EC) and Consent to Establish or Operate from the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB).
The order also cited alleged violations of the Meghalaya Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 2016, and the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006. The administration stated that the unregulated activities posed an imminent threat to aquatic life, water quality, downstream irrigation channels and related infrastructure, necessitating urgent preventive measures to protect public health, water security and public property.
Under the prohibitory order, all unauthorised sand washing and unscientific sand extraction operations along the Umtyngar–Pomkaniew stretch of the Umiew River that discharge silt-laden wastewater directly into the river have been stopped with immediate effect, pending statutory compliance and clearance from the competent authorities.
Operators have also been strictly prohibited from dumping extracted sand, mud, silt or debris along riverbanks or natural drainage paths where such materials could be washed into the river.
Furthermore, no sand washing or mining activity will be allowed to resume unless operators establish proper settling tanks, closed-loop filtration arrangements and designated spoil-disposal sites away from the river channel, supported by valid statutory permits and clearances.
The order has come into force with immediate effect and will remain applicable until further orders. The District Magistrate also warned that any violation of the restrictions would invite prosecution under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
