Guwahati: Allegations of illegal stone quarrying inside the Sonaikuchi Reserve Forest near Jagiroad have reached the Supreme Court, with petitions raising questions over lease validity, forest clearance and the extent of extraction within the protected area.
At the centre of the controversy are Jagiroad Stone Quarry Nos. F(1) and F(2), located inside the Sonaikuchi Reserve Forest. The site comes under the jurisdiction of Nagaon Forest Division and is situated in Morigaon district near Jagiroad. The quarries were originally granted forest clearance for diversion of one hectare of land.
Lease expired, extraction continues
Environmental activist Dilip Nath, whose interlocutory applications (IA Nos. 125409/2025 and 125412/2025) are pending before the apex court, has alleged that mining continued even after the lease granted in 2017 expired in August 2018.
Nath has further claimed that extraction extended to more than 30 hectares inside the reserve forest, far exceeding the permitted one hectare. He has also alleged attempts to extend the lease retrospectively. The Supreme Court, while examining the matter, has stayed illegal mining and directed the state government to investigate the allegations. Local sources, however, maintain that stone-laden trucks continue to operate in the area.
Expansion amid legal scrutiny
Records of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change indicate that one hectare of forest land was initially diverted for quarrying. On January 22, 2026, the Forest Advisory Committee granted “in-principle” approval for diversion of an additional four hectares, expanding Jagiroad Stone Mahal No. F1 from one hectare to five hectares.
Activists have questioned the timing of the clearance, noting that the issue is sub judice. In a representation to the Principal Secretary of the Environment and Forest Department, Nath urged the government not to extend any lease in favour of the operator while the case remains pending before the Supreme Court.
Wider concerns across districts
The controversy appears not to be confined to Jagiroad. Activists allege that several quarrying sites across Nagaon and Morigaon districts are under scrutiny, with satellite imagery purportedly indicating mining activity within protected forest areas in parts of Nagaon, Hojai and Morigaon.
In Doboka Reserve Forest, allegations have surfaced that at least one quarry continued operations beyond permit validity. The Divisional Forest Office in Nagaon has sought clarification from M/s Dhariwal Buildtech Limited regarding alleged violations, including mining without final forest clearance and operating beyond approved boundaries.
In Hojai district, the National Green Tribunal has directed a joint committee to submit a fact-finding report into alleged illegal mining at Bheluguri Gaon, observing that more than 1,000 households depend on the affected water source.
Political allegations surface
The issue has also assumed a political dimension. Former Union Minister Rajen Gohain, who recently joined the Asom Jatiya Parishad, alleged that in Nagaon district, stone supply operations are controlled by the son of R.S. Gandhi. He further claimed that other stone crushers in the area have been shut down while one continues to operate due to political backing, linking the allegation to State Minister Pijush Hazarika.
There was no immediate response from those named in the allegations.
Ecological implications
Environmental observers caution that quarrying within reserve forests can result in habitat degradation, soil erosion and disruption of water systems. Residents in adjoining villages have reported increased heavy vehicle movement, dust accumulation and visible alteration of hill slopes.
With the Supreme Court seized of the matter and multiple agencies examining compliance, developments in the Sonaikuchi Reserve Forest are likely to remain under close watch.