Meghalaya : Protest rally staged against illegal stone quarry near Dareng River

The stone quarry at Budugre, which the local community claims is operating illegally, has been in operation since 2021

Residents of Chokpot in South Garo Hills, along with various local organizations, held a large rally on Tuesday to express their strong opposition to the stone quarry operating near the Dareng River in Budugre.

The stone quarry at Budugre, which the local community claims is operating illegally, has been in operation since 2021. Facing resistance from villagers and significant public pressure, the quarry briefly ceased operations in 2021 but resumed activities this year.

Residents had previously filed multiple complaints with the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) and Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) regarding the quarry’s operation. They also met with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, Tura Member of Parliament Agatha Sangma, and local MLA Sengchim N Sangma, presenting memorandums requesting action to halt the quarry’s activities.

Following the massive rally on Tuesday, another complaint was submitted by the community. The gathering also issued a warning, indicating that they would take stronger actions if the quarry was allowed to continue its operations.

The rally included participation from the general public, village chiefs (Nokmas and Sordars), and school students. Leading the rally were local groups like GSU, Chokpot Area Vigilance Committee (CAVC), FKJGP, AHAM, AYWO, GSMC, and Nokma Council, among others.

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