INDISCRIMINATE cutting of hilltops in and around Chattogram city is endangering hill-side stability and protection of environment and government agencies and private real estate companies relentlessly at work to promote housing business at the cost of vital city environment. Report in a national daily on Saturday last highlighted the widespread destruction of hills to cave out housing plots and it said government agencies are equally involved.
Inaction of the Department of Environment (DoE) and other government agencies is most spectacular in their supportive role to such illegal work. Chattogram City Corporation has reportedly cut big hills to implement three housing projects in the city. The Chittagong Development Authority similarly has been accused of cutting hills to implementing various housing projects. It appears people mandated to save the city are instead destroying hills and city landscape. We have plenty of laws for preserving hills and forest but the rule of law is not working. It appears the rich and powerful people have no bar, notwithstanding the existing laws in establishing luxury housing projects on hilltop. The role of the DoE is very weak in this case. It mainly files cases against breach of law in some cases but accuse individual company functionaries instead of the housing companies. Such cases mostly remain pending in absence of witnesses. It allows companies to carry out the demolition of hilltops.
DoEs statistics show in 17 years from 2003 to July 2020, developer companies, government, non-government organisations and influential have cut 123 hills in the city together. The DoE has not filed a single case against developer companies to raise question if any nexus is at work on both sides. Some 130 cases are pending from 2007 to 2020 and 160 cases are under investigation. Since 2014, 50 cases have been settled and some individual jailed.
DoE blames for manpower crisis to stop hill cutting and illegal land grabbing is not acceptable because the government has enough resources and strong law enforcement agencies to force implementation of environmental law to protect the hills. It is not properly using police power and courts system which otherwise allowing powerful people around the government to realise their dream housing projects on the hilltops. Misuse of power and corruption are allowing it to happen.
