The headman of Longplaidisa village in Umrangso, Dima Hasao, has raised serious concerns over proposed drilling and mining activities in the area, saying that these plans pose a direct threat to the land, forests and everyday lives of the villagers. The Gaon Bura, Duttaram Hojai, has also accused a private company of encroaching into village land without informing or seeking consent from the local residents.
In a detailed letter to the Director of Geology and Mining, Assam, Hojai requested that all exploratory drilling in Longplaidisa be stopped immediately. He said the people of the village depend on their cultivable land, forest areas, water bodies and streams for their livelihood, and any mining-related activity would damage these resources. He added that the local environment is already fragile and cannot handle more industrial pressure.
Hojai wrote that the villagers have been facing several problems for years because of cement factories, existing mining operations and alleged illegal rat-hole coal extraction in the region. According to him, these activities have not only polluted the air and water but also brought many outside workers into the area. He said this has disturbed the social atmosphere and has allegedly led to an increase in crime. 
In another letter, this time addressed to the Principal Secretary of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC), Hojai accused a cement company of entering nearly two kilometres into the boundary of Longplaidisa village. He said the company has already started building a road through Nobdilongkukro village and is planning limestone mining in the Longplaidisa area. He pointed out that all of this has happened without any discussion with the villagers, even though the land belongs to tribal residents who have traditional rights over it.
Villagers of Longplaidisa have strongly opposed the encroachment. They said any road construction or mining work in the area will destroy their farmland, harm the forest, disturb wildlife and pollute the streams they depend on for daily use. They fear that once mining begins, it will permanently change the landscape and damage the environment beyond repair.
Hojai said the people of Umrangso have already suffered enough because of industries that came up without proper planning or community consent. He stressed that villagers now feel it is their responsibility to protect their land and environment so that future generations do not suffer the same problems.
