Arbitrariness of sand traders! Mining with five Poklane machines in the middle of the river, crisis looms over the cremation ground of tribal-slave society

Asansol, West Bengal The controversy has once again deepened regarding the sand ghat located in Shyamapur area under Barabani police station of Asansol. Local people have accused sand trader Pathak of lifting sand on a large scale with heavy machines in the middle of the river, ignoring the prescribed rules of sand mining. Villagers say that this is not only affecting the environmental balance, but the existence of the age-old cremation ground of tribal and slave society is also in danger. According to local sources, under the rules laid down for sand ghat operation, workers are allowed to lift sand from a limited area through baskets or brooms. Also, it is mandatory to follow the prescribed length and breadth and map for mining. But it is alleged that in the greed to earn more profit, five Poklane machines are being landed in the middle of the river and sand is being continuously loaded into trucks and highway vehicles. Villagers say that near the place where mining work is going on, the cremation ground of tribal and slave communities of Bindudih and Shyamapur villages is situated. At this ghat, both the communities perform the last rites of their dead and perform other religious rituals. Due to heavy machines and continuous mining work, religious activities are being seriously hampered. The people of the area have warned that if the administration does not intervene in this matter soon and stop the mining work, they will start a violent movement. The villagers also said that they will demand justice by sending a written complaint to the Chief Minister, President and Prime Minister to save their cultural and religious heritage. Now it remains to be seen what steps the local administration and concerned departments take in this matter and how the concerns of the villagers are resolved.