Indiscriminate hill cutting in Sylhet: Two sued
The pond was purposefully excavated at the top of a hillock, locally known as "Moloy tila", in Khadimpara, a suburb of Sylhet city, to evade law against illegal hill cutting. Photo: Iqbal Siddiqui
The Department of Environment (DoE) here yesterday filed a case against two persons on charge of cutting a hillock locally known as "Bolder Hajir tila" in Khadimpara, suburb of Sylhet city, without permission of the department and violating environmental law. DoE Inspector Mohammad Faruque Hossain, following a spot visit, lodged the case accusing Haji Mohammad Bolder of Shah Sundar Majar road area and Ahad Chowdhury of Chowdhurypara of Khadimpara. The DoE officials said that on information, they arrived at the hillock but could arrest none, as some 20 labourers working there managed to flee. The involved people will be arrested, they added. Zillur Rahman, DoE deputy director (technical) of Sylhet, who led a team to the hillock site, said some unscrupulous people are engaged in cutting hillocks around the metropolitan city to develop some housing plots. Meanwhile, the DoE will press charges against some people for massive cutting of the much-talked "Moloy tila" (hillock), on top of which the landowners had already dug a big pond, causing high risk of landslide in the area during rainy season. DoE Deputy Director Zillur yesterday told The Daily Star that the charge sheet is likely to be filed next week. About 8-10 people may be charge-sheeted, he indicated. On February 8, DoE Inspector Faruque filed a case with the environment court against Abdur Rab of the metropolitan city's Modhushohid area, Khairul Islam of Nipban residential area, and 4-5 others for illegally cutting Moloy tila in Khadimpara area. In another development, the DoE deputy director yesterday sought permission from the DoE for filing separate cases against one Oliur Rahman of Khadimpara on charge of unauthorised hill cutting. Oliur's men were cutting a hillock illegally, although he was given permission by the DoE six months ago, on his request for preparing the hillock for tree plantation, said Zillur. The DoE is also considering cancellation of the permission, he added.
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