Our Correspondent
RANGPUR, Oct 28: Indiscriminate sand lifting is going on unabated from Jomuneshwari river at Chharan area of Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur district, posing serious threat to the Jomuneshwari bridge over the river in the area and causing risk of massive erosion.
Locals alleged that a section of influential people are involved in lifting sand illegally. The sand traders have been lifting sand from near the pillars of the bridge for long. As a result the bridge is under threat, they further alleged. It seems that officials concerned are oblivious to the matter, they also said.
Sand traders are lifting sand from the riverbed installing shallow machines in the river. Due to mindless dredging river erosion has been intensified. They stock the extracted sand on the nearby croplands, sources further said.
Local people claimed that they lodged complaint several times with the Upazila Nirbahi Officer 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.
Hundreds of acres of cultivable land and houses on the river bank are also threatened by erosion locals said. Many dwellers alleged that several acres of land of their areas have become unfit for cultivation due to continuous sand lifting. They urged the concerned authorities to take immediate measures to stop it.
Afsar Mia, a local farmer said that he already lost his 25 decimals of croplands due to erosion caused by unabated sand lifting from the river Jomuneshwari. He informed the local administration of the matter but they did not take any step in this regard, he added.
Milonpur Union Parishad chairman Abdul Halim said they have already stopped lifting of sand from at least 5 points across the river under Milonpur union.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Mamun-Ar-Rashid said that they have stopped sand lifting from the river in several occasions. But some dishonest sand traders have begun such illegal act again. Necessary measures will be taken against the culprits soon, he added.
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