Sylhet Bureau :
Unabated soil lifting is taking place in Dakshin Surma under Sylhet district in a festive manner.
There is an allegation that an influential section is earning lakhs of taka by lifting soil illegally in this district.
Due to sand lifting, several Bridge and croplands in the northern area of the district have fallen under erosion threat. At the same time, many families living on the river bank are also passing days in fear of erosion.
A visit found the men of the influential section was cutting soil in dark night at Dakshin Surma Upazila after cutting, soil is being taken by big and small drum trucks to different places for sale. Soil is also being taken to different brick fields.
But soil traders claim, they are selling the soil for development in the area. Some locals said, they have to face many problems if they say anything as they are very influential.
Many families cannot complain even to the local administration in fear of them.
Most of them are conducting the soil business using their partisan identities, they mentioned.
A visit to Basia River area found the near of Basia Bridge has been under the erosion threat; houses along the river banks are set to be eroded.
In several places of Lalabazar Union the influential section is cutting top soil and selling the soil in other places.
As a result, marginal farmers in these areas are passing days in hardship as these lands are no longer cultivable.
DC of Sylhet Mojibor Rahman said, If anybody cut soils illegally, action will be taken instantly, he warned.
He gave assurance of taking quick measures to stop soil-cut.
