UNB, Faridpur :
Indiscriminate sand extraction from the river Padma has made the Faridpur town protection embankment vulnerable, much to the worry of local residents.
A group of local influential people having political clout are lifting sand illegally from the mighty river near the town embankment at Baliadangi village in Dicrirchar union of Sadar upazila.
During a recent spot visit, this correspondent found sand extracted from the river being loaded into trucks along a vast area on the west side of Dholar More up to Baliadangi village.
The stand extraction has been continuing at the point for the last one month, said local sources.
Around 400 to 500 trucks heavily loaded with the extracted sand are plying the embankment every day making the infrastructure rickety.
The embankment constructed at a cost of Tk194 crore is now on the way of getting largely damaged for indiscriminate plying of the sand-laden trucks on it.
The situation has triggered a scare among the locals that the embankment might collapse any moment.
Local sources said allegedly led by Dicrirchar union Juba League president Mintu Fakir, local influential people, including Bodruddin Sheikh, Kumaresh Babu, Mukhles, Ayub Mollah, Ser Ali and Bachhu Sheikh, are lifting sand from the river point.
Villager Musa Sheikh said sand is being extracted from the river defying rule. Some leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League and BNP are involved in sand extraction from the river.
Rahman Sheikh, who has built a house beside the town embankment, said he constructed the house with big hope spending huge money by reckless plying of the sand-laden trucks much to the damage of his building.
He questioned then what is the use of raising the embankment spending such huge money?
A sand trader of C&B Ghat area requesting not to be named said Abdur Rob, Mintu Fakir and Ayub Mollah sell sand worth Tk1.5 lakh to Tk 2 lakh from the river every day.
Several hundred sand-laden trucks move on the embankment every day causing much damage to it, he added.
About sand lifting from the river, Ayub Mollah said, “We are extracting sand from the river taking permission from the Water Development Board (WDB) and managing the local Awami League leaders.” Juba League leader Mintu Fakir claimed they were lifting sand from their land on the shoals that emerged in the river.
“Apart, money is being paid separately for the sand lifted from the land beside,” he added.
Executive Engineer of Faridpur WDB Shahidul Islam denied giving anyone permission to extract sand from the river.
He said they earlier conducted several drives but could not arrest any of the culprits as they remained off the scene seeing their presence.Deputy Commissioner of Faridpur Sardar Sharafat Ali said he conducted mobile courts several times against the sand lifting.
