BSS, Rangamati :
Reckless destruction of forests for shifting cultivation (jhum chansh) and other purposes with hill cutting have been posing a threat to the environment of the three hill districts of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban.
Local administration said burning of forest resources and cutting of hills for boulders and human habitation have been adverse impact on the ecology as well as economy of the three districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) region.
Though there is a ban on the cutting of hills, the hill cutters have been defying it with almost total impunity. Hill cutting is going on everywhere in these hill districts, it was alleged.
The Additional Director (AD) of Directorate of Agriculture Extension, Haroon-or-Rashid, stationed in Rangamati to look after agricultural activities in the CHT said forest resources on over 20,000 hectares of land under these districts were burnt down for shifting cultivation during the current season. This process is also posing a threat to the biodiversity and existence of wild animals, Rashid added.
Locals said the forest bandits have been plundering the forest resources in collusion with a section of corrupt forest officials.
Sources in concerned circle pointed out that a large number of people of lower income bracket have built houses at the slopes by cutting hills. An earthquake of even a low intensity and heavy rainfall could spell disaster to people, living in CHT region sources warned.
Executive Director of Global Village, a non-governmental organization working in the CHT, Fazleh Elahi said the impact of the current hot spell was being felt more severely in the hill districts than in the plain land because of the manmade factors.
The people of the region have to pay very dearly if the practice of hill cutting and denuding hills in the CHT went on unabated, added sources.
He urged concerned authorities to do the needful early to address the destructive practice hazardous to people of the region.
Reckless destruction of forests for shifting cultivation (jhum chansh) and other purposes with hill cutting have been posing a threat to the environment of the three hill districts of Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban.
Local administration said burning of forest resources and cutting of hills for boulders and human habitation have been adverse impact on the ecology as well as economy of the three districts of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHTs) region.
Though there is a ban on the cutting of hills, the hill cutters have been defying it with almost total impunity. Hill cutting is going on everywhere in these hill districts, it was alleged.
The Additional Director (AD) of Directorate of Agriculture Extension, Haroon-or-Rashid, stationed in Rangamati to look after agricultural activities in the CHT said forest resources on over 20,000 hectares of land under these districts were burnt down for shifting cultivation during the current season. This process is also posing a threat to the biodiversity and existence of wild animals, Rashid added.
Locals said the forest bandits have been plundering the forest resources in collusion with a section of corrupt forest officials.
Sources in concerned circle pointed out that a large number of people of lower income bracket have built houses at the slopes by cutting hills. An earthquake of even a low intensity and heavy rainfall could spell disaster to people, living in CHT region sources warned.
Executive Director of Global Village, a non-governmental organization working in the CHT, Fazleh Elahi said the impact of the current hot spell was being felt more severely in the hill districts than in the plain land because of the manmade factors.
The people of the region have to pay very dearly if the practice of hill cutting and denuding hills in the CHT went on unabated, added sources.
He urged concerned authorities to do the needful early to address the destructive practice hazardous to people of the region.
