UNB, Beanibazar :
Over 115 households in Beanibazar upazila are facing a serious threat of landslides in the upcoming monsoon due to rampant cutting of hillocks.
Locals said, there are about 300 hillocks in the upazila and each of those has been affected in one way or the other as unauthorised soil traders in connivance with local authorities and influential people are cutting away the soil and selling those off.
In Beanibazar, about 115 families are currently living on hill slopes and top of the hillocks amid the fear of landslides as a heavy downpour may accelerate hillsides any time, destroying their households which may cost their lives.
“We’re living here in fear of a big disaster. There had been landslides in many places of the upazila recently during a moderate rainfall. During rains, we stay awake overnight,” said Abdul Basit who along with his family members lives on a hillock at Mollahpur village in the upazila.
Sylhet has tropical monsoon climate bordering on a humid subtropical climate at higher elevations. As it is located near Meghalaya, the country’s largest rainfall occurs in the region intensifying the risk of landslides.
Owners of the hillocks cut soil from their hillocks without taking any approval from the authorities concerned and sell off soil to developers or other people. Private owners are th4ese days seen to level hillocks during the dry season.
During a recent visit to Beanibazar, a UNB correspondent found that soil was cut away from various hillocks in Khasharipara, Supatala, Nidanpur, Mollahpur, Konagram, Fengram, Chuttadesh, Pathan, Abdullahpur, Joltup, Lauta, Austasangaon, Pahariabahar and other areas.
Amirul Islam who resides near a big hillock at Nidanpur told UNB that a big chunk of mud
collapsed on his house during rain a few days ago, putting his family members in danger.
Basit said, his neighbour sold off soil by creating a 16-foot hole in a hillock where his family lives in. “A big crack has developed near my house due to the hill cutting. So, we’re living here facing a high risk of landside as it may happen anytime during rain,” he added.
He claimed that a written-complaint was submitted to Sylhet’s Deputy Commissioner’s Office in this regard on April 26 last, but hill cutting continues.
Mehdi Hasan, assistant commissioner (Land) of Beanibazar upazila, said since cutting hillocks without the approval of the authorities concerned is totally illegal, the local administration conducted a number drives in the past to stop it.
“If people live in the vulnerable areas of hillocks, we’ll take necessary steps to relocate them to safer places,” he said.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Asaduzzaman said there has been no instruction from the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in this regard so far, but steps will be taken soon to relocate the people now at risk.
He also said legal action will be taken against those involved in hillock cutting.
Over 115 households in Beanibazar upazila are facing a serious threat of landslides in the upcoming monsoon due to rampant cutting of hillocks.
Locals said, there are about 300 hillocks in the upazila and each of those has been affected in one way or the other as unauthorised soil traders in connivance with local authorities and influential people are cutting away the soil and selling those off.
In Beanibazar, about 115 families are currently living on hill slopes and top of the hillocks amid the fear of landslides as a heavy downpour may accelerate hillsides any time, destroying their households which may cost their lives.
“We’re living here in fear of a big disaster. There had been landslides in many places of the upazila recently during a moderate rainfall. During rains, we stay awake overnight,” said Abdul Basit who along with his family members lives on a hillock at Mollahpur village in the upazila.
Sylhet has tropical monsoon climate bordering on a humid subtropical climate at higher elevations. As it is located near Meghalaya, the country’s largest rainfall occurs in the region intensifying the risk of landslides.
Owners of the hillocks cut soil from their hillocks without taking any approval from the authorities concerned and sell off soil to developers or other people. Private owners are th4ese days seen to level hillocks during the dry season.
During a recent visit to Beanibazar, a UNB correspondent found that soil was cut away from various hillocks in Khasharipara, Supatala, Nidanpur, Mollahpur, Konagram, Fengram, Chuttadesh, Pathan, Abdullahpur, Joltup, Lauta, Austasangaon, Pahariabahar and other areas.
Amirul Islam who resides near a big hillock at Nidanpur told UNB that a big chunk of mud
collapsed on his house during rain a few days ago, putting his family members in danger.
Basit said, his neighbour sold off soil by creating a 16-foot hole in a hillock where his family lives in. “A big crack has developed near my house due to the hill cutting. So, we’re living here facing a high risk of landside as it may happen anytime during rain,” he added.
He claimed that a written-complaint was submitted to Sylhet’s Deputy Commissioner’s Office in this regard on April 26 last, but hill cutting continues.
Mehdi Hasan, assistant commissioner (Land) of Beanibazar upazila, said since cutting hillocks without the approval of the authorities concerned is totally illegal, the local administration conducted a number drives in the past to stop it.
“If people live in the vulnerable areas of hillocks, we’ll take necessary steps to relocate them to safer places,” he said.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Mohammad Asaduzzaman said there has been no instruction from the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in this regard so far, but steps will be taken soon to relocate the people now at risk.
He also said legal action will be taken against those involved in hillock cutting.
