Illegal sand mining rocks in Chengerkhal River
Sylhet Bureau
Influential people have continued to illegally mine sand from Chengerkhal River in Badaghat, Sylhet using dredging machines. This is causing river erosion, causing extensive damage to crop lands and the environment in the Barachar and Umairgaon areas.
Despite the administration’s ban, this destruction is being carried out by illegally mining sand at night using dredgers and evading government revenue, which has become a cause of great fear for the locals.
According to local sources, sand is being mined continuously at night using hundreds of small and large dredgers in the areas under the Airport and Jalalabad police stations of Sylhet Sadar Upazila, especially in the Chamaurakandi and Umairgaon areas.
Hundreds of acres of crop lands, houses and important areas like Metkar Haor are under threat due to increased river erosion due to illegal mining of sand. Although the administration occasionally conducts raids to destroy the dredgers and imposes prison sentences, the unscrupulous gangs quickly resume illegal mining.
Although local residents have been demanding stricter legal measures and regular monitoring to stop this illegal activity that has been going on for a long time, the locals are not getting any redress.
Locals said, illegal sand mining is being carried out from the Chengel Canal River west of Badaghat Bridge in the dead of night. After informing the UNO, OC, ACLAND and other concerned administrations, the matter was not taken seriously. As a result of illegal sand mining, many houses, markets, mosques and madrasas have almost disappeared into the river.
Although sand has been illegally mined from Barachar Balumahal for a long time, evading crores of taka of government revenue, it has not come to the notice of the local administration so far. As a result, anger has arisen among the locals over the looting of government revenue.
Locals allege that the local administration has not taken any action against the traders despite illegal sand extraction at night for a long time. The agricultural land of many farmers around the area has been destroyed as a result of sand extraction. A local resident who did not want to be named said, “No matter how much writing is done, sand extraction does not stop.” Despite requesting the local administration to stop illegal sand extraction, no results have been obtained.
Sylhet Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Khoshnur Rubaiyat said, we received a complaint about sand mining three days ago. The upazila administration has taken all kinds of preparations to stop these illegal sand miners.
Such a strict stance of the administration to protect the river and environment will continue in the future.
Regular campaigns will be continued against illegal sand and soil miners in the public interest and to protect government resources.
