Hill cutting threatens environment, forests

A ravaged hill on the Srimangal-Shayestaganj roadside at Shatgaon in Moulvibazar district after earth-cutting. PHOTO: STAR

With the onset of monsoon, this will accentuate landslides, which will block roads. Landslides often claim lives.

But it is going on unabated despite protests by environmentalists and local people in many areas.

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Sources said some organised syndicates are involved in the business. They sell earth used for filling up low lying areas and marshy lands.

As per law, hill cutting is prohibited. But the unscrupulous people 'manage' some people in the administration and continue the illegal act.

Though hill cutting is illegal, trucks or tractors carrying earth from hills to different areas is now a common sight in Moulvibazar. The administration plays a role of a silent spectator, sources concerned said while talking to this correspondent.

There are more than 100 tea gardens in Sadar, Rajnagar, Kulaura, Juri, Baralekha, Kamalganj and Srimangal upazilas of the district. Most of the garden areas are very rich in forest resources. But these are being destroyed only due to indiscriminate hill cutting. Landslides often block roads in the areas.

Moulvibazar-Shayestaganj road, Moulvibazar-Kulaura road, Moulvibazar Rajnagar-Fenchuganj road and Srimangal-Kamalganj road pass through hills. In every rainy season, road block on these due to landslide is a common phenomenon.

This correspondent during a recent visit talked to local people in Srimangal, Kamalganj, Rajnagar, Kulaura, Juri and Baralekha upazilas. Most of them said they were not aware that hill cutting is illegal. Neither the administration nor the forest department launched any campaign against hill cutting in the areas, they said.

Contractors come to an area and engage their men in cutting earth from hills, saying they have bought the earth and have taken permission from the authorities, the local people said.