Trees uprooted in name of road reform in Bauphal

Barishal Cortrespondent :

Huge palm and date trees were uprooted in the name of rural road repair and reconstruction in Bauphal upazila under Patuakhali district.
Already 92 palm trees and 51 date trees uprooted from both sides of the road.
Although the incident happened in Sadar Union of Baufal Upazila Parishad, but the scene of killing huge trees for implementation of the project has not come to the notice of local administration or any higher official till this report.
According to Bauphal upazila Projecti Implementation Office sources, the Upazila Parishad took the initiative to repair and reconstruct at least one km road from Anshar Biswas’s house to Ismail Fakir’s house in Jauta village of Ward No. 8 of Baufal Sadar Union under food for work project.
Fourteen metric tons of wheat has been allotted against that work and according to the type of project, that should be implemented by the local poor population.
Journalists after visiting the area it was revealed that huge number of palm and date trees are uprooted in the name of road reconstruction in Baufal upazila of Patuakhali by using a soil-cutting machine (Veku).
The project under food for work was supposed to be implemented for eliminating poverty of local poor residents, but it did not happen. The road reconstruction has been going on by using ground cutting machine showing lame excuse of labour shortage.
Locals said that the President of the Project and General Secretary of Baufal Sadar Union Awami League, Kamruzzaman Litu Molla, cutting the soil with veku for repair and reconstruction of the road.
President of the Project Implementation Committee Kamruzzaman Litu Molla, acknowledging the fact said the trees were uprooted only for implementing the project.
Baufal Sadar Union Parishad Chairman Zahidul Islam said that he did not know the matter. However, environment-friendly palm and date trees on the side of the road cannot be cut.
In this context, Baufal Upazila Project Implementation Officer (PIO) Rajib Biswas said that according to my knowledge Kamruzzaman Litu Molla has been asked to repair roads, not to cut trees.
Bauphal Upazila Nirbahi Officer (Acting) Bayezdur Rahman said, I have not given permission to any one to cut any tree. I am looking into the matter.
Divisional Officer of Patuakhali Forest Department Shafiqul Islam said, permission must be taken for cutting trees planted not only by the government but also by the private owners. Action will be taken against those who are uprooting trees without permission for any purpose or out of sense of responsibility in the name of road repair.