RANGPUR, Feb 07: A section of unscrupulous people have continued lifting sand from the Teesta river in Panjorvanga village of Balapara union under Kawnia upazila of the district.
As a result dwellings and arable lands are under threat of erosion.
The sand traders have been extracting sand by sinking pipes into the bed of the river with dredgers from the area for long, but the authority concerned seems to be oblivious to the matter, locals alleged.
Locals said that a number of influential people are involved in such illegal act. Around 40-50 trolley loads of sand are being sold everyday from there. Per trolley sand is being sold at Tk 500 to Tk 800.
Locals also said they have informed the local administration of the matter, but nothing has been done so far to stop sand lifting.
If lifting of sand cannot be stopped soon, a vast tract of cultivable land may be threatened by river erosion, resulting in massive loss of properties, locals apprehended.
Helal Mia, a resident of the area said he lost his house and 30 decimals of cultivable land owing to river erosion last year caused by sand lifting from Teesta river.
Some residents including Aminul, Mintu, Bablu and Saiful of the area said they had to shift their houses fearing erosion. Many people are passing days in apprehension, they added.
Acting upazila nirbahi officer, Kawnia, Ziaur Rahman said local administration has stopped sand lifting from the river in several occasions. But some dishonest sand traders have started such illegal act frequently. Necessary measures will be taken against the accused soon, he added.
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