Probe bodies on Ctg landslides submit reports
Monday, 25 June 2007
CHITTAGONG, June 24 (UNB): Recommending southward expansion of the port city outside the hills, two probe committees on the hill-slide disaster here prohibited brickfields within 10 kilometres and housing project within 5 kilometres of foothills of the district.
In their reports submitted Sunday, they also recommended that the government revive a total of 84 dormant cases against hill cutting for punishing the culprits, mainly held responsible for the catastrophe that took a heavy toll of at least 128 dead and scores others wounded recently.
The recommendations came in separate reports submitted by the two investigation committees, formed to probe the June 11 tragedy caused by collapse of earth and walls from the denuded hills onto foothill homes of poor people amid downpour.
Both led by Additional Divisional Commissioner (Revenue) MAN Siddique, the two committees were formed on June 14 on instruction from Communications Adviser of the Caretaker Government Major General (Retd) MA Matin.
The committees handed the reports to Divisional Commissioner M Mokhlesur Rahman Sunday noon with a 35-point recommendation meant for preventing landslide while another 9-point one for preventing wall collapse.
Having received the reports, the Divisional Commissioner said the reports would be sent to the Chief Adviser, the Communications Adviser and the cabinet division by Sunday night through messenger.
After thorough investigations, the probe bodies found Environment Department, Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) and local administration responsible for the incident.
The investigators recommended for extending the port city southward into Patiya and Anwara upazilas across the river Karnaphuli, ditching the plan for northbound expansion.
The CCC will have to allocate 5 per cent of the Annual Development Programme funds for the Hill Management Programme envisaged in the recommendations.
"A coordination committee should be formed under the Hill Management Programme for giving permission if any establishment has to be constructed by cutting hill, stripping the Environment Department of such authority," says one recommendation.
In their reports submitted Sunday, they also recommended that the government revive a total of 84 dormant cases against hill cutting for punishing the culprits, mainly held responsible for the catastrophe that took a heavy toll of at least 128 dead and scores others wounded recently.
The recommendations came in separate reports submitted by the two investigation committees, formed to probe the June 11 tragedy caused by collapse of earth and walls from the denuded hills onto foothill homes of poor people amid downpour.
Both led by Additional Divisional Commissioner (Revenue) MAN Siddique, the two committees were formed on June 14 on instruction from Communications Adviser of the Caretaker Government Major General (Retd) MA Matin.
The committees handed the reports to Divisional Commissioner M Mokhlesur Rahman Sunday noon with a 35-point recommendation meant for preventing landslide while another 9-point one for preventing wall collapse.
Having received the reports, the Divisional Commissioner said the reports would be sent to the Chief Adviser, the Communications Adviser and the cabinet division by Sunday night through messenger.
After thorough investigations, the probe bodies found Environment Department, Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), Chittagong Development Authority (CDA) and local administration responsible for the incident.
The investigators recommended for extending the port city southward into Patiya and Anwara upazilas across the river Karnaphuli, ditching the plan for northbound expansion.
The CCC will have to allocate 5 per cent of the Annual Development Programme funds for the Hill Management Programme envisaged in the recommendations.
"A coordination committee should be formed under the Hill Management Programme for giving permission if any establishment has to be constructed by cutting hill, stripping the Environment Department of such authority," says one recommendation.