Large-scale drive next month to remove illegal structures at Ctg's Jungle Salimpur

CHATTOGRAM, Aug 22: A large-scale operation will be conducted from September next to remove all illegal structures built by cutting hills at Jungle Salimpur and Alinagar in Chattogram's Sitakund.
At the same time, a police camp will be set up there, Deputy Commissioner of Chattogram Mohammad Mominur Rahman told journalists during a visit to the areas on Sunday.
Lawmaker of Sitakund constituency Didarul Alam was present during the visit.
Other members of the team were: Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police of Chattogram Range Anwar Hossain, Chattogram Metropolitan Police (CMP) Commissioner Krishna Pad Roy, RAB-7 Commanding Officer Lt Col MA Yousuf and Superintendent of Police SM Rashidul Hoque.
DC Mominur Rahman said, "We have only visited the areas now. A large-scale drive will be launched from next month and all illegal structures here will be removed."
Notices have been served to the illegal residents, said the DC, adding, "Those who live in the houses built illegally by cutting hills have been asked to move out."
"The High Court has issued a directive to evacuate vulnerable residents of the hills within a month and we are working according to that instruction," Mr Rahman added.
Chattogram Range DIG Anwar Hossain said, "We have taken an idea about the entire place here and seen how the environment has been destroyed by cutting down hills."
"The entire area is a khash land of the government. Those who sold plots here did it all illegally."
CMP Commissioner Krishna Pad Roy said that the Chattogram DC had been working on the government's master plan on Jungle Salimpur for a long time. "Local public representatives are also supporting him. Senior government officials have visited it. We are here today too," he said, adding that police would work as per the government instructions.
This is to mention that illegal occupiers have long been cutting hills and selling plots in Jungle Salimpur and Alinagar areas. More than 30,000 people have been living there by building houses on the illegal plots.
The government has recently taken up mega plans to reclaim over 3,000 acres of khash land and construct several projects, including night safari park, sports village, stadium, central jail, iconic mosque, hospitals and many others on the reclaimed land.

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