Khagrachhari Correspondent :
A section of influential people have been lifting sand illegally from different spots at four upazilas here for long. As a result, government is losing a huge amount of revenue from the activities. Meanwhile, roads, river banks and different establishments are also facing threats of destruction due to illegal sand lifting.
District administration sources said they have identified total 12 sandbanks at four upazilas in the district in 2015-2016 fiscal years. They have leased out five sandbanks of Sadar and Manikchhari upazilas at Tk 25 lakh which was only Tk 15 lakh in 2014-2015 fiscal year. But, the remaining seven sandbanks are in operation without any lease or legal procedure, according to sources.
President of Manikchhari Upazila Corruption Prevention Committee Md Ataul Islam said the influential section has been lifting around 50 trucks of sand illegally from seven different spots in the upazila, depriving government of revenue.
Moreover, roads and river banks have been broken due to plying of sand-laden trucks with heavy loads, he added.
Mohammad Gias Uddin, a villager of Ganjapara under Khagrachhari Sadar upazila, alleged that the second Chengi Bridge is under the threat of collapse due to illegal sand lifting by the ruling party men.
Abdul Hoque, a villager of Sonaipul under Ramgorh upazila in Khagrachhari district, alleged that Vice-President of Ramgorh upazila Awami League has been lifting sand from four points in the upazila without taking any lease. But, the administration is yet to take any action against him. A number of houses at Badya Para and Sonaipul have been damaged due to illegal sand lifting, he alleged.
A section of influential people have been lifting sand illegally from different spots at four upazilas here for long. As a result, government is losing a huge amount of revenue from the activities. Meanwhile, roads, river banks and different establishments are also facing threats of destruction due to illegal sand lifting.
District administration sources said they have identified total 12 sandbanks at four upazilas in the district in 2015-2016 fiscal years. They have leased out five sandbanks of Sadar and Manikchhari upazilas at Tk 25 lakh which was only Tk 15 lakh in 2014-2015 fiscal year. But, the remaining seven sandbanks are in operation without any lease or legal procedure, according to sources.
President of Manikchhari Upazila Corruption Prevention Committee Md Ataul Islam said the influential section has been lifting around 50 trucks of sand illegally from seven different spots in the upazila, depriving government of revenue.
Moreover, roads and river banks have been broken due to plying of sand-laden trucks with heavy loads, he added.
Mohammad Gias Uddin, a villager of Ganjapara under Khagrachhari Sadar upazila, alleged that the second Chengi Bridge is under the threat of collapse due to illegal sand lifting by the ruling party men.
Abdul Hoque, a villager of Sonaipul under Ramgorh upazila in Khagrachhari district, alleged that Vice-President of Ramgorh upazila Awami League has been lifting sand from four points in the upazila without taking any lease. But, the administration is yet to take any action against him. A number of houses at Badya Para and Sonaipul have been damaged due to illegal sand lifting, he alleged.
