Guwahati, July 27: Chandubi Lake, a natural wonder situated at the foothills of the Garo Hills and nestled between Meghalaya and Assam, lies just 40 kilometers from Guwahati. This tectonic lake, formed by the devastating earthquake of 1897, has become a beloved tourist destination. However, its existence is now under severe threat due to illegal mining and forest degradation.
Recent studies have highlighted the alarming degradation of tropical forests around Chandubi Lake, leading to a drastic 90% decline in fish fauna, thereby destabilizing the local ecosystem. Remote sensing images reveal an increase in human settlements, exacerbated by illegal encroachment and logging activities. This degradation threatens the habitat of critically endangered fish species like Nandhani and ornamental fish Phutkiputhi, as well as the Gangetic dolphins (Platanista gangetica) that visit from the River Kulsi.
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The extent of damage is staggering: the total area of water bodies within the study area has decreased by 79.57% from 2000 to 2016, while built-up areas have increased from 12.69% to 50.40% in the same period.
Responding to reports of illegal mining, Assam Forest Minister Chandramohan Patwary took immediate action. “I spoke to the Divsional Forest Officer( DFO) and told him that this should not happen. The DFO already instructed his officials to stop such activity in the Chandubi area,” he told reporters.
Concerned citizens and an Adivasi students’ body have raised alarms over rampant illegal stone mining near Chandubi, claiming severe environmental damage and threats to the ecosystem. In a memorandum to the Kamrup District Commissioner, they accused the forest department of negligence and collusion with the mining mafia. According to the memorandum, mining operations, which began at Muduki village near Chandubi in mid-May 2024, have used heavy machinery, including hydraulic excavators and numerous dumpers.
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An inquiry initiated by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) led to the temporary relocation of mining equipment to Meghalaya. Pakhiraj Rabha, president of the Rajapara Anchalik Janajatiya Yuba Sangha, stated, “The illegal stone mining has been going on near Chandubi, but after complaints by the citizens and local organizations, the DFO stopped the illegal activity. The illegal mining activity is a threat to nature, and the entire biodiversity will be affected.”
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