Illegal sand mining has allegedly reached worrying levels along the Kolong River in the Thengbhanga area of Mayong, triggering serious concern among local residents in Morigaon district.
Villagers living near the river have accused sand mafias of openly extracting sand from the riverbed without any permission from the concerned authorities. According to locals, the illegal activity is continuing both during the day and at night, with heavy diesel-powered machines being used to dig deep into the riverbed. Large sections of the Kolong river are now visibly damaged, with parts of the riverbed left exposed.
Residents fear that the unchecked sand mining is causing serious environmental damage. They say the continuous removal of sand is weakening the natural structure of the river, increasing the risk of erosion along the banks. There is also growing fear that the damaged riverbed could worsen flooding during the monsoon season, putting nearby villages at risk. 
Despite the scale of the alleged illegal operation, locals claim that officials of the Forest Department, including those under the Nagaon Divisional Forest Office (DFO), have not taken any effective action so far. People say the mining continues openly, raising questions about monitoring and enforcement on the ground.
The illegally mined sand is reportedly being transported in large quantities to nearby urban centres, including Guwahati, Morigaon and Jagiroad.
