Illegal extraction of boulders, from Sherpur hills destroying ecology

Government is also being deprived of a huge amount of revenue due to this.

The materials are being extracted from Garo, Gazni and Shaudhakura hills covering about 67 square kilometre area in Jhenaigati and 42 square kilometre area in Nalitabari upazilas through drilling and blasting, according to environmentalists and local political leaders.

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These are transported to other areas of the country through trucks in connivance with a section of corrupt law enforcers, they alleged.

Boulders are used for development work like road construction, embankment protection and river training and hardrock for cement production.

These are available in Gazni, Tuakuchi, Raugtia, Khoruazura, Bakakura, Shamoschura and Balijury areas in Jhenaigati and Puragou, Batkuchi, Dovodhara and Nayabill in Nalitabari.

There are over 100 illegal quarries in the areas, forest official SM Pasha said. The extraction increased with the advent of dry season.

Collection of rock through blasting is strictly prohibited in the hills.

The illegal work is continuing on the nose of law enforcers, local Awami League leader Md Muzzammel Haque and BNP leader Md Saiful Islam Kalam alleged while talking to this correspondent.

Truckloads of these materials are passing through the highway, but police do not stop those, they claimed. This is continuing in connivance with a section of forest officials, they claimed.