Random sand lifting from the Lohalia River poses risk to Patuakhali town protection embankment, much to the worry of locals.

Jewel Mridha of Lohalia village under Patuakhali district took lease of sand mohal (quarry) of the river for the running Bangla year 1422 for Tk 3.10 lakh, Patuakhali deputy commissioner's (DC) office sources said.

As per the lease condition, the leaser could not do any work that would be harmful to the Patuakhali town protection embankment or other structures of the town but they are lifting sand from the area adjacent to the embankment, locals alleged.

Demanding immediate step to stop

the harmful act, Nuru Dhali and 13 other people on behalf of the residents of College Road area submitted a memorandum to the DC on Sunday.

"Our houses and others structures are under risk due to sand lifting from the river," said Samsuddin, a local.

Around 50,000 cubic feet of sand is being lifted daily from the river adjacent to Patuakhali town protection embankment, sources said.

Visiting the area around 9:00am on Sunday, this correspondent found at least four dredgers lifting sand from the river while cargos were receiving it to carry to business sites.

After receiving the memorandum Md Delwar Hossain Matubbar, additional deputy commissioner (Revenue), said, "We leased the sand mohal for this year as the river is getting filled

up with sand, hampering plying of boats and launches. The lease will be cancelled if the lessee violates the conditions."

Contacted, lessee Jewel Mridha said he took lease from the DC office and he will lift sand according to the instruction from the authorities.

Probir Kumar Goswami, executive engineer of Water Development Board (WDB), said they will visit the spot and send recommendation to the DC for cancellation of the lease if the sand lifting is found to be risky for the town protection embankment.

WDB built Patuakhali town protection embankment at a cost ofTk 24.52 crore in 2011-12 fiscal year to save the town from tidal surges of two rivers -the Lohalia in the east and the Lawkathi in the north.