The High Court yesterday directed the government to stop the earth filling and dam construction across the Gumti river at Muradnagar upazila in Comilla within 24 hours.

Responding to a writ petition filed yesterday, the court also asked the authorities concerned to submit a report before it in seven days after complying with the order.

The HC also asked the local administration to file a case in three days against those responsible for such activities, and submit a report by May 25 on compliance.

It also issued a rule upon the authorities to explain in four weeks why the local administration's inaction in stopping the dam construction and earth filling should not be declared illegal.

Secretaries to the ministries of water resources, and environment and forest, directors general of Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and Department of Environment, WAPDA's executive engineer, deputy commissioner of Comilla and officer-in-charge of Muradnagar Police Station have been made the respondents.

Three locals of Muradnagar filed the writ petition. During hearing, petitioners' counsel Manzill Murshid told the court that a section of local influential people have reportedly been constructing a dam and filling earth in the river for grabbing land.