Hill cutting unbridled in Ctg

CHATTOGRAM, Sept 27: Illegal hill cutting continues unabated in the port city of Chattogram and its adjoining areas in the dry season now.
The rampant hill cutting is the prime cause of seasonal landslides here as dishonest people cut hills for soil and land for construction work, according to sources.
Hills in Khulshi, Panchlaish, Sholoshahar, Bayezid Bostami, Foy's Lake, Lalkhan Bazar, Oxygen Intersection and Polytechnic areas mostly fall prey to the rapacity of a syndicate of people.
Illegal hill cutting has also been reported in rural areas in Chattogram recently, sources said.
Meanwhile, a group of miscreants are cutting hills in Bayezid Link Road area to make an unauthorised new road to connect Bayezid road with Faujdarhat.
It is alleged that hill cutting is being done in the broad daylight, but the Department of Environment (DoE) is doing nothing against those involved.
A syndicate of political figures, local goons and administrative officials are involved in this mindless act, resulting in serious ecological imbalance and environmental disaster.
Environment activist Prof Muhammed Idris Ali said over 100 hills have completely disappeared in the past 30 years and dozens of people died in landslides mainly for the insensible hill cutting.
The incidence of landslides occurs almost every year in Chattogram as most of the hills have already been cut in the last several years, flouting the law.
In the meantime, the district administration of Chattogram started an eviction drive against illegal occupiers of hills in the port city from last July.
Executive magistrate Tauhidul Islam conducted a daylong raid Akbarshah area in Chattogram on July 10.
The team demolished 350 illegal establishments from hillsides and hilltops during the raid.
Earlier on July 03, Mr Islam conducted another raid at Boiltoli in Foy's Lake area and demolished 500 illegal establishments.
The team recovered eight acres of hilly land from illegal occupiers during the raid. But the drive remains stopped for now.
Chattogram deputy commissioner (DC) Abul Bashar Mohammed Fakhruzzaman said, "The drive to demolish all illegal establishments from hills and hillside areas will continue."
"The administration will take action against those involved in hill cutting," he told the FE.

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