Sylhet Bureau :
Many houses and establishments, especially a widely used Shahparan bridge at Sylhet Sarar upazila has been threatened due to riverbank erosion caused by illegal sand lifting from Surma River.
During a recent visit to Shahporan Bridge area, this correspondent found that illegal sand lifting was going on relentlessly under the nose of the local administration, endangering the adjacent locality. A huge water body was created along the Shahporan Bridge following the illegal sand lifting as well as many houses, business establishments and a number of trees in Muradpur and Pirerchak villages under the Sadar Upazila area collapsed in recent times, according to locals.
Now the Shahporan Bridge faces the risk of being eroded into the river due to the unabated sand lifting, they added.
Meanwhile, the villagers urged the authorities concerned to take immediate measures to stop all the dredging activities in the area.
While talking to correspondent, villagers said 10-12 houses of Muradpur and Pirerchak village have already got inundated and the whole area may go into the river if it is not protected immediately.
A resident of the area, wishing anonymity, said local influential people are behind the illegal sand lifting.
Nizam Uddin, a resident of Muradpur, told, “several decimals of land of mine have already gone into gorge of the river following the sand lifting, and only my dwelling house is still left unaffected though it stands threatened.”
Some locals, said they are passing a horrific time in a fear of losing their houses as they have already lost most of their croplands. They fear that they will lose everything if the authorities concerned do not take effective measures immediately.
UNO of Sylhet Sadar Upazila Sirajam Munira said the local administration did not take any initiative yet for unknown reasons though they were informed repeatedly.
Deputy Commissioner of the Sylhet district (Act.) Debjit Singho said, “Action will be taken against sand lifters if it’s found that the riverbank erosion is taking place because of that.”
He said the local UNO and officer-in-charge of Shahporan Police Station have already been informed about it.
Many houses and establishments, especially a widely used Shahparan bridge at Sylhet Sarar upazila has been threatened due to riverbank erosion caused by illegal sand lifting from Surma River.
During a recent visit to Shahporan Bridge area, this correspondent found that illegal sand lifting was going on relentlessly under the nose of the local administration, endangering the adjacent locality. A huge water body was created along the Shahporan Bridge following the illegal sand lifting as well as many houses, business establishments and a number of trees in Muradpur and Pirerchak villages under the Sadar Upazila area collapsed in recent times, according to locals.
Now the Shahporan Bridge faces the risk of being eroded into the river due to the unabated sand lifting, they added.
Meanwhile, the villagers urged the authorities concerned to take immediate measures to stop all the dredging activities in the area.
While talking to correspondent, villagers said 10-12 houses of Muradpur and Pirerchak village have already got inundated and the whole area may go into the river if it is not protected immediately.
A resident of the area, wishing anonymity, said local influential people are behind the illegal sand lifting.
Nizam Uddin, a resident of Muradpur, told, “several decimals of land of mine have already gone into gorge of the river following the sand lifting, and only my dwelling house is still left unaffected though it stands threatened.”
Some locals, said they are passing a horrific time in a fear of losing their houses as they have already lost most of their croplands. They fear that they will lose everything if the authorities concerned do not take effective measures immediately.
UNO of Sylhet Sadar Upazila Sirajam Munira said the local administration did not take any initiative yet for unknown reasons though they were informed repeatedly.
Deputy Commissioner of the Sylhet district (Act.) Debjit Singho said, “Action will be taken against sand lifters if it’s found that the riverbank erosion is taking place because of that.”
He said the local UNO and officer-in-charge of Shahporan Police Station have already been informed about it.
