Defying the recent Manipur High Court ban orders on stone-quarrying and sand mining on all rivers of Manipur, daily wagers who were engaged as labourers for these banned activities resume what they say are their only source of sustenance – quarrying and mining on the Thoubal river.
KRC TIMES Desk
Manipur High Court on 3rd July had issued the interim order to ban unauthorized stone quarrying and sand-mining activities in all rivers of the State in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Thoubal River Conservation Committee (TRCC) complaining to the court that stone quarrying and sand mining on Thoubal river bed is polluting the river so much so that the river water is rendered unfit for human consumption.
Several marginalized labourers both male and female from Thoubal and Imphal East districts staged a protest on Monday at the Leirongthel sand-mining site, along Thoubal river, demanding high court to repeal its ban order till an alternative livelihood source is provided for their survival.
“Pollution of Thoubal river is not due to sand-mining or stone quarrying, but rather it is because of daming the river at Maphou. Our livelihood activities alone cannot cannot be blamed for the river’s pollution,” asserted an elderly female protestor who provides for her family through labouring in sand mining for the Thoubal river.
“The court orders have robbed us of our livelihoods with many of us on the verge of starvation,” said one of the wager who requested anonymity and appealed to the Court to provide an alternative livelihood source before enforcing the ban. He further added that,“even though we respect the court orders, it has robbed more than 20,000 labourers of their only means of livelihood. Labourers are also human beings. We’ve to provide for our families and that is why we have to resume quarrying and mining.”
The protesting daily wagers assured the court they will gladly quit their activities as and when another means of livelihood is provided for them.
