Illegal sand extraction goes on freely in Lama

PBC News:  Illegal extraction of sand by putting dredgers in canals and rivers at Lama upazila in Bandarban district could not be stopped. Some local unscrupulous sand syndicates have been extracting sand in unplanned ways under political patronisation.

As a result, homesteads, croplands, roads, culverts, and bridges and protected forest areas face erosion every year.

Aziz Nagar, Sarai, Faitang and Bagaichhari Khal of Greater Fansiakhali Union, Bhalluka Jhiri, Amtali Pulu Khal, Vaigyar Dokan Para, Killakhola, Fadurchhara, Missionpara Islampur, and in many places at Lama municipality,  the organized clique continues to extract sand in an illegal manner undermining the government’s ‘Balu Mahal policy’

Locals said that, village after village and houses are being washed away by the river and hundreds of families are losing their settlements due to river erosion. Besides, many are losing their resources and becoming destitute. Due to unplanned sand extraction, PC guarder bridge over Bagaichhari canal of Fansiakhali union, Banpur Baramarma Para bridge over Yangchha canal, Boro Chhon Khola bridge, Hasnavita bridge over the Pulu canal of Soroi union have been damaged.

Locals demanded that the upazila administration should take effective steps against sand extraction now to protect the bridges built spending huge amount of money.

Abdus Salam, Bandarban Environment Department inspector, said, “I have listed the names of several people involved in sand extraction and sent them along with the director of the Chittagong Environment Department.” Quick legal action will be taken against them.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Reza Rashid said mobile courts were set up at different places in the upazila on August 16 and September 9 and about 4 lakh cubic feet of sand was seized from five sand dunes, sand extraction machines and equipment were destroyed. Mobile court operations against illegal sand extraction will continue.