Sand supply from Durgapur Balughat halted: Construction work of HSIA’s 3rd terminal reportedly hampers
Durgapur Correspondent :
Casting work for the construction of 3rd Terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport has reportedly been hampered due to the halt of sand supply from the Durgapur Balughat (sand quarry) in Netrakona.
Authorities earlier ordered to close after some complexity with the leaseholder.
Expert engineers are of the opinion that the construction work of the HSIA’s 3rd terminal will not be completed on time because minimum 2.5 selection sand is being used in the construction of the terminal. The only source of this sand is Balughat No. 1 of Durgapur.
The High Court (HC) on March 18 this year ordered the authorities to handover the sand quarry to the lessee within three days. The order did not mention working days.
But the authorities did not implement that order and approached the Appellate Division on April 26 this year, praying for stay of the HC order dated on 18/04/23.
It is known from several sources that the authorities of the Netrakona District Commissioner filed this appeal unnecessarily. Meanwhile, it is known from various sources of Durgapur Balumhal that the current lessee has paid Tk 31 crore more than the previous year’s lease amount. The higher lease amount also preserves government’s interest as well as ensures higher revenue income from the sand quarry.
It is known that on April 04 this year, the Chamber Judge of the Supreme Court ordered the lessee to deposit the remaining amount of 15 per cent VAT and 10 per cent source tax by May 10 this year.
Accordingly, the lessee informed the Court on May 03 by depositing the remaining amount in the invoice on May 02 before the scheduled time. The State counsel took time to verify the invoice.
Although the online challan verification system is in operation in the digital system of the government. As a result, the case was dragged out.
It should be noted that on May 03, Netrakona district authorities sent a dead letter at night to the lessee by email which created new complications. Consequently, the Durgapur Balughat-1 is closed till now.
On the other hand, the only source of sand used for all the development works of the government and for the casting of all mega projects including Dhaka Metrorail, Elevated Expressway is No. 1 Balu Mahal under Durgapur Upazila of Netrakona District. Meanwhile, the workers of the Balu Mahal in the area have made an earnest request to the government and the concerned authorities for the Balumhal to be opened soon and they can return to their work.
Because the sand palace is not operational, these workers spend their days with their families half-starved. Thousands of these workers at No. 1 sand ghat of Someswari River have been forced to run their families by taking loans from traders on usury as the way of their earning is blocked due to the closure of the sand quarry for almost a month. Their debt is increasing day by day.
