RANGPUR, July 7: A section of unscrupulous people are continuing lifting of sand illegally from Ghaghot river at Sheikhpara, Tampat, Nisbetganj area under Rangpur sadar upazila, intensifying threat of erosion in the areas.
Mindless sand lifting is also threatening Nisbetganj Bridge over the river Ghaghot, sources alleged.
Hundreds of acres of cultivable land and houses on the river bank are threatened by erosion due to this callous act, the locals said.
The sand traders are doing this illegal practice in collusion with some influential local political leaders and dishonest officials in the administration, it is alleged.
During a recent visit this correspondent found some dredgers lifting sand from river beds. They stocked the extracted sand on the near by crop lands. People involved in the sand lifting are mostly influential.
Locals claimed that they lodged complaint several times with the authority concerned but no step has been taken so far in this regard. They further said that law enforcing agencies seem to be reluctant to take any action against the sand traders who are involved in continuous sand lifting.
Some dwellers of the affected areas said hundreds of acres of land of their areas have become unfit for cultivation due to continuous sand lifting. They urged the authorities to take immediate measures to stop it from Ghaghot River.
If the sand lifting is not stopped immediately erosion by the river might have taken a serious turn soon eroding a vast tract of crop lands, locals apprehended.
Local people demanded that the authority concerned should take adequate measures to stop lifting of sand from the river in order to protect the areas from erosion.
Eid shopping
A BSS report says: The people have already started early Eid shopping despite higher prices of Eid items, including clothes, much ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr festivity to avoid abnormal rush at the last moment in the city markets.
According to the market sources and local observers, Eid shopping in all markets, shopping malls, complexes and makeshift wayside markets marks huge sales amid tight security measures in the divisional city.
Hundreds of men, women, housewives, students, girls, boys, youths and adolescents have been buying Eid items on their own choices from the markets and their movements have been creating huge traffic jam since 10:30 am daily in the city.
