DoE accused of selling environmental clearances

Selim Reza, Sirajganj :

Believe it or not, however it is truth that, environmental clearancesare available here just if you have money.
Such allegation has intensified around the Environment Department inSirajganj due to its some controversial activities which have now turned into a matter of muchdiscussion across the district.
Showing thumb to all terms and conditions, a section of unscrupulousofficials of the Environment Department have got down in the trade of providing clearancecertificates in exchange of money.
There have been serious allegations that some unscrupulous officialsof the Department of Environment have started the business of issuing clearances in exchange for money,violating all the conditions, which no one is able to stop.
On the other hand, when any complaint is received regarding thesematters, the officials capitalize on that complaint and start playing ‘Rat and Cat’ game in the name of oneinvestigation
after another and they grab huge amounts of money on various pretexts. Not only that, itis alleged that, they also adopt various strategies to legitimize illegal institutions in exchange for money.
Breaching all the records of corruption, providing such environmentalclearance to an auto-rice mill in Raiganjupazila of Sirajganj district by the environment departmenthas recently set up an important example for the locals.
Despite several allegations, Messrs Riya Auto-rice Mill, many known asBismillah Auto Processing Mill, has been set up on around four decimal arable lands in Chandaikonanearby Sarker Bari under Raiganj upazila of Sirajganj district violating all terms and conditions. Themill has now become a tumor for the local residents, they claimed.
There are some provisions in context of setting up such mills as wellas providing clearance certificate by the environment Department. But none of the terms and conditions wascomplied while it was set up.
In preliminarily, the Riya Auto-rice Mill was set up on arable landand beside a government primary school, located between 70 feet distance.
After installation of the auto-rice mill beside a general rice dryingand processing mill, locally called ‘Chatal’, production of crops on the neighboring lands has fallen introuble. Besides, students and teachers of the Chandaikona Model Government Primary School have beenfacing manifold problems including getting affected with various diseases like skin infection,cough and asthma due to pollution of the mill.Experts said, smoke and dusts come out from the mill pose serioushealth hazard. Due to living in suchsmoky and dirty environment for long time, human may be affected withvarious chronic diseases likecancer.
KamruzzamanKazol, Headmaster of Chandaikona Model Government PrimarySchool told The New Nation Correspondent that,that, “I cannot imagine, how the authorities, especially the
Environment Department, despite multiple complaints and even a High Court ban, would grant clearance orapproval to operate such a mill locatedso close to an educational institution.”
“Due to smoke, dusts and small particles of paddy husk come out fromthe mill; academic activities of
the school are being hampered drastically. Students and teachers arefalling into sick one after another.
Many are being affected with various diseases including skin infectionand asthma. Clothes of the
students and teachers are getting dirty regularly during school time.They can’t take breathe smoothly.
But, none of the authorities concerned is paying heed to ourcomplaints. They are ignoring our
allegations terming it a family feud between two groups of people,which frustrating us seriously.
Besides, they are passing time in the name of various investigations.
So, we have nothing to say, wherewe will go for fair justice in this regard,” he said.Small students also expressed similar views of frustration.
Local residents said, influential people numbering 14 to 15 personsincluding Abdur Rauf Sarker,Shahidul Islam, Tipu Aziz, Kamrul Islam Bablu, Prince Babu, BabluAkanda and Anwarul Islam have
established the Riya Auto-rice Mill on the arable land (three timecrop producing land) beside the
populated area. Due to mill’s waste and dirty poisonous water, whichare entering into their croplands,
farmers are not getting now expected production of crops.
During a spot visit, this correspondent found that, mill are beingoperated without any ETP (Effluent
Treatment Plant). ETP is basically one type of waste water treatmentmethod which is particularly
designed to purify industrial waste water for its reuse and its aim isto release safe water to
environment from the harmful effect caused by the effluent. Not onlythat, there is no designated pondor water reservoir without a little ditch. The ditch is completelyunable to preserve adequate wastewater.
Even there is no dust collector in the mill and no boundary walloutside the mill. As a result, dust and
rice husk of the mill are being spread out easily in and surroundingareas that polluting local
environment severely. It is very difficult to take breathe withoutmask. However, some 15 to 16 workers
were seen working in the mill without any mask or hand gloves.
Moresurprising matter is that, theworkers are not aware about their health risks and necessary tests.
Elite people of the area expressed their agony and asked how the millauthorities generatedEnvironment Clearance even after so many obligations.
There is an allegation that, Environment Department issued anenvironmental clearance in favour of the
Riya Auto-rice Mill on March 20, 2024 showing thumb to the terms andconditions and even several
written allegations submitted by the locals.
The department alsotactfully avoided the obligations andallegations, and asked the mill authorities to follow some criteriaattached with the clearance that wasissued with a time limit for March 19, 2025. The valid date has already expired.
The matter is not ended here. There are more surprises. TheEnvironment Department through a
hearing on May 24 last over a written allegation fined Tk 1 lakh tothe mill authorities as compensation
for the people, who lost their crops due to waste of the mill.
Elite people seem that, the fine, imposed by the EnvironmentDepartment, is the clear evidence of the
mill’s pollution. But, they also expressed sorrow and dissatisfactionabout the mysterious role of the
authorities as they are yet to take any step to stop operation of themill or shifting the mill to elsewhere.
A reliable source said, Abdul Gafur, the then Assistant Director (AD)of the Department of Environment
(DoE) in Sirajganj, who currently is serving at its Pabna office aftertransferring, was the main among
others behind providing environmental clearance to the Riya Auto-riceMill in exchange of Tk 11 lakh as
bribe.
One of the complainants said, Gafur did not take any step to stop theoperation of pollutant mill or
transfer it to safer zone despite several allegations and validconditions’ violation. In contrary, he
arranged all to provide clearance certificate which is considered as abig hindrance in the prevention of
environmental pollution.
Such corruption is also another greatobstruction on the way of the incumbentgovernment reform process.
While contacted, TuhinAlam, Assistant Director of the Department ofEnvironment in Sirajganj declined
to make any comment in this regard and requested to talk with hissenior officer Saiful Islam, DD of
Bogura office. He also provided his contact number for taking hiscomment in this regard.
Saiful Islam, Deputy Director of the Department of Environment for theRajshahi regional office in
Bogura, who visited the mill site recently as a part of hisinspection, told that, “I have visited the mill
and neighboring school. Suffering of the small students and theirteachers is not avoidable. Crops are
being damaged partially. But, I have nothing to do here as all theprocesses for providing such clearance
were maintained by our top authorities. There was pressure of therecently ousted government’s
kingpins, where I had no power to handle.
However, I have asked themill authorities to follow the rulesto continue the operation.”
He also expressed his disability over submitting investigation reporton shifting of the mill to elsewhere
or shut down its operation saying that, many top and influentialauthorities are involved with it. This is
why, he alone can’t do it. There is needed political will to takeproper action in this regard, he hints.
While contacted over cell phone on Wednesday, Abdul Gafur, the thenAssistant Director (AD) of the
Department of Environment (DoE) in Sirajganj showing his arrogancesaid that, “What’s your problem?
Such ten to twenty allegations of irregularities and corruption arenot matter for any government officer
like me.”
He also advices this journalist to submit RTI prayer for details orany more query. Otherwise, he is not
bound to say something about the allegations, he speak with pride.
Prince Babu, one of the 15 partners of the Riya Auto-rice Mill said,”Firstly, we built this mill on cropland
without changing the size or pattern of the land. Later, on the adviceof the concerned senior officials, a
certificate regarding the change in the class or category of the landwas recently obtained from the
district administration. As per their advices, we have also collectedother certificates from different
departments like Fire Service, Explosives Department and FoodDepartment. Even though there is no
dust collector, we are trying to prevent dust with a net. We have alsocollected permission to dig a pond
here. No matter how many obstacles there are, the documents are now100 percent ready.
So, nomatter how many problems people have, no one can ask us to close themill or shift it somewhere else.
Because, the authorities are now in our hands.Like the Riya Auto-rice Mill, many other rice mills including RohanAuto-rice Mill, owned by AbdusSamad and Joba Auto-rice Mill, owned by Hafizur Rahman have beenestablished in the arable land inChandaikona area after managing some unscrupulous officials of theauthorities concerned includingEnvironment Department. Mostly are running despite HC ban.
Locals urged the interference of Environment Adviser SyedaRizwanaHasan to cancel the clearance certificate of the Riya Auto-rice Mill and shift it to an appropriateplace. Besides, they demanded exemplary punishment against the involved officials including AbdulGafur for providing such clearance certificates in exchange of money or bribe. The villagers also warnedto go for tougher agitation, if action is not taken in this regard shortly.