A mudslide triggered by extensive earth-cutting blocked NH 415 near the Donyi Polo International Airport on Sunday night after debris from a hillside slid onto the highway. The blockage left many vehicles stranded for several hours, prompting the Papum Pare district administration to inspect the affected stretch and identify three major locations damaged by earth-cutting.

Following the inspection, two private individuals and a gas pipeline agency were directed to clear the debris, with the administration warning them of legal action if they fail to comply.

The Papum Pare and the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) administrations have faced public criticism for their inability to curb illegal earth-cutting along the highway despite repeated warnings. Although a blanket ban on earth-cutting without prior permission from the authorities is in place, violations continue unabated.

The administration's latest order holding the landowners and other responsible parties accountable is timely. However, enforcement alone cannot prevent such incidents. Citizens, landowners, and agencies must also act responsibly and respect environmental norms. Reckless earth-cutting can have consequences far beyond the site of excavation as we have seen in this case too. Nature is not always forgiving, and any interference with it must be undertaken with utmost caution and a sense of responsibility towards society.