Cox’s Bazar Correspondent :
A section of influential people have been lifting sand illegally from the Bakkhali River at Shikderpara area under Rajakul union in Ramu upazila of the district for long, posing a threat of erosion to cultivable lands and dwelling houses on the both banks of the river.
Local people submitted written complaints to ADC additional deputy commissioner and UNO of Ramu, seeking immediate action to stop the illegal sand lifting.
Locals said that concrete cement (CC) blocks were dumped along the river bank to save the roads- Rajakul-Shikderpara and Rajakul-Chainda, spending Tk 10 crore few years ago. But a section of corrupt people have recently started mining sand from the riverbed at the erosion-prone areas without the permission of the authorities concerned.
As a result, they are now very worried that they might lose their dwelling houses, electric pillars and roads nearby due to the fresh river erosion.
While visiting the area, this correspondent found that sand being extracted from the river is loaded into a mini-truck.
When asked some sand labourers that they are lifting sand as per the direction of two local influential persons.
Local residents Mohang Abdul Haque, Shah Alam and Kamal said the random sand lifting in defiance of the administrative order is going on here unabated. If it is not stopped immediately, the river erosion will take a serious turn again, they feared.
Earlier, dwelling houses, croplands, educational institutions, roads and mosques were devoured by the mighty Bakkhali River; and to check the erosion, Water Development Board built a flood protection dyke, they added.
The government can earn few lakh taka as revenue by selling sand of the river, but once the river erosion starts, it will cost several crore, they said adding that the local administration should take the legal steps without delay to stop the illegal acts.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Shah Jahan Ali said they recently have conducted a drive and fined the illegal sand lifters Tk 10 thousand. If they continue doing the same, they will take stern action against them, he added.
A section of influential people have been lifting sand illegally from the Bakkhali River at Shikderpara area under Rajakul union in Ramu upazila of the district for long, posing a threat of erosion to cultivable lands and dwelling houses on the both banks of the river.
Local people submitted written complaints to ADC additional deputy commissioner and UNO of Ramu, seeking immediate action to stop the illegal sand lifting.
Locals said that concrete cement (CC) blocks were dumped along the river bank to save the roads- Rajakul-Shikderpara and Rajakul-Chainda, spending Tk 10 crore few years ago. But a section of corrupt people have recently started mining sand from the riverbed at the erosion-prone areas without the permission of the authorities concerned.
As a result, they are now very worried that they might lose their dwelling houses, electric pillars and roads nearby due to the fresh river erosion.
While visiting the area, this correspondent found that sand being extracted from the river is loaded into a mini-truck.
When asked some sand labourers that they are lifting sand as per the direction of two local influential persons.
Local residents Mohang Abdul Haque, Shah Alam and Kamal said the random sand lifting in defiance of the administrative order is going on here unabated. If it is not stopped immediately, the river erosion will take a serious turn again, they feared.
Earlier, dwelling houses, croplands, educational institutions, roads and mosques were devoured by the mighty Bakkhali River; and to check the erosion, Water Development Board built a flood protection dyke, they added.
The government can earn few lakh taka as revenue by selling sand of the river, but once the river erosion starts, it will cost several crore, they said adding that the local administration should take the legal steps without delay to stop the illegal acts.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Shah Jahan Ali said they recently have conducted a drive and fined the illegal sand lifters Tk 10 thousand. If they continue doing the same, they will take stern action against them, he added.
